Chapter 65 – The evil Duke

With the excuse of checking the sleepy soldiers, Doctor Hernández came back to the tavern to give Esteban the coca leaves mix.

"They should carry on sleeping for about two or three hours, minimum. But, are you sure about this? Is this what you really want?"

"I can't see another way, can you?" Esteban said.

"No. But I still don't like it. Diego said the effects of this mix lasted for about two hours only. And then, how are you going to cope with the pain and the lack of energy?"

"I don't know. I have no idea. With grit and determination to get away, together with teeth clenching?"

"Really? Good luck with that," the doctor said, handing over the bowl with the coca leaves mix.

"Thank you. I want to talk to Diego again before I go. Please, don't tell the others anything, because they will try to stop me. I know that."

"If you don't want to see them for that reason, I'll let them know your plan and your motivations after you leave Los Angeles."

"Yes. Thank you. I'll take this after I talk to him," he said, leaving the bowl on the side table. "I don't want to waste any of my precious boosting time. I'll need it later to get away."

Esteban stood up, changed his clothes, got his boots and sat back at the edge of the bed to put them on, but he struggled to reach, groaning.

"This is not a good start, is it?" Doctor Hernández said, helping him with the boots.

"I think I'll leave them on for a few days, until my ribs get better or my feet get rotten," he joked.

"Well, at least don't lose your sense of humour, because you are going to need it."

They both stood up and Esteban hugged the doctor then, as a farewell.

"Thank you for everything. Please, take care of my cousin. Don't let him do any more stunts."

"As if that will be possible! The same as you," the doctor said, tapping Esteban's back. "Good luck."

"I would like to say goodbye to my uncle and Victoria, but I can't. Please tell them I'll miss them."

"Yes, of course. Take care."

Esteban left the room, careful not to be spotted by the couple still downstairs, and stepped into Diego's. He was resting with his eyes closed, but he wasn't asleep. When he opened them and saw him by the door, he smiled at his cousin.

"Are you back to finish the job? To kill me with laughter?"

"No, not this time."

Diego sensed his seriousness, and sat up straighter on the pillows at once, concerned.

"What's wrong?"

"Where should I start? You know there are many things wrong. Having a laugh now and then doesn't change the grim background, does it?"

"No, it doesn't. But it helps, a little."

Esteban took a seat by the bed, and started fidgeting with the bed covers.

"What are your plans now, really? What are you going to do about Zorro? That worries me."

"Thank you for your concern, but I don't know myself yet. I would like to make him disappear and get on with my life as Diego, but I don't know if the alcalde will let me do that. The moment I stand back, he'll come up with some scheme or other to screw people up. It's always the same with him."

"Can't they fend for themselves? I told you that before, when we talked about Zorro, remember? Of course, I didn't know it was you back then, but, still, I never liked the idea the lazy people of this pueblo expect every problem here will get sorted out by Zorro. By you."

"You'll never know how much I appreciated your words back then, when I was feeling so low. You are the first one ever expressing concern for Zorro, at least that I know of. I really liked your empathy with my situation, thank you."

"You know? Some of these citizens are selfish bastards, and I honestly don't know why you risk your life for them."

"No, they are not. They have lost their ways, that's all. And they need my help."

"My goodness. You are so good, so kind, so pure and perfect, sometimes you remind me of Jesus. Disgusting, that is!"

That comment made Diego laugh again, ending with another bout of coughing.

"Judas. You really want to kill me, don't you?" Diego whispered with his head held low when he recovered, glancing at him sideways.

"To do that, I could just tickle your feet, you know?"

"Don't you dare!"

"Now, seriously, more things. What about Victoria? When are you marrying her?"

"As soon as I can, really. But we'll have to come up with some plan to break the engagement with Zorro, and then start my courting as Diego. In any case, it will take a while. We can't just jump into an engagement coming out of the blue. That will look suspicious. And that will only work if Zorro disappears. If he carries on riding to keep the alcalde under control, I don't know when that wedding is going to happen, because she won't be safe as my wife."

"Listen, Jesus wannabe: forget about Zorro. You've done your best during four, very long years, but it's time to start living your life."

"That's easier said than done. Besides, there are lots of factors involved I need to take care of. For example, what about Toronado? What should I do with him?"

"If I was you, I would pretend I bought a black stallion in Monterey, and you bring him back with you when you show up at the pueblo with the alcalde's medicines in a few days. Of course people will comment on how similar he looks to Toronado, but hey, he is not the only black stallion in the world, is he? He has no distinctive markings. Two black horses can look alike."

"That's a good idea. That may work. Thanks."

"See? One problem sorted. Next."

"What about you? How are you going to avoid jail this time? Have you got a good lawyer yet?"

"No. I don't need one."

"What do you mean? Zorro can't get you out of jail again and threaten the alcalde one more time right now. As much as I would like to."

"I know. That's why I have another plan."

"What plan? What are you doing?"

"I'm running away."

"When?"

"In a moment, when I'm done talking to you. Doctor Hernández prepared the last mix of coca leaves to give me a boost so I can ride away while the soldiers are still asleep."

"What? Now? In your condition, that's a stupid idea! You'll feel great, initially, sure, but the effects of those leaves are short, and then what are you going to do?"

"Carry on riding until I get to the North, to the American States."

"Are you? That will take weeks. I can't picture you riding twelve hours a day with broken ribs. And what about the seizures?"

"Yes, I know all that, all right? The doctor is also concerned about the seizures. But, what can I do? I hope they will stop at some point."

"What if they don't? What if they get worse?"

"I don't know! I'll worry about that later!"

"Denial won't help you at all, you know?"

"Look, one thing I want to ask you is this: have you noticed how I seem to have a seizure every time I handle a sword? It happened when Zorro… I mean, you, gave me a lesson; then in San Pedro, with those robbers; and again at the plaza the other night. Why do you think that is?"

"I have no idea what triggers the seizures. With the sword, it maybe the concentration required to handle it, or the effort, or the sense of danger… I have no idea."

"Ha. I wonder if it is true then, that I should never handle a sword, ever again. Because I may need to, if the bastards from Madrid follow me. You see? That's another reason why I must leave. I am endangering the whole family if that duke keeps coming after me."

"Yes, you still have to tell me what's the story with the Duque de Cádiz. What happened there, exactly?"

"I don't want to tell you, because there is nothing you can do about it."

"Come on, you started telling Zorro, when you didn't know it was me. I think I should know what the problem is, in case those men really come after the De la Vegas, as you fear."

"Zorro looked certain nothing would happen to Diego in Monterey because he would protect him on his way back. That was an odd thing to say. Damn, I should have known it was you!"

"Well, yes, of course Zorro knew Diego was safe," Diego said with a smirk, winking.

"Smartarse... Well, I think you are right: the Zorro/Diego blend, —or should I say Eufrasio—, should know about this matter."

"Come on, stop beating around the bush and tell me: what happened? What did you do?"

"I just lived up to my standards of idiocy. As my father suspected, it had to do with my reputation as a womanizer, sex-craving fool, but not in the way he imagined. I find the whole thing deeply disturbing, specially that someone would consider me keen to participate in such degree of depravation." He stopped for a moment, lost in thought, trying to find the best way of telling such a grisly story.

"Go on."

"I had an affair with the duke's daughter in law."

"His son's wife? Not his fiancée?"

"Exactly. The wife. Even more scandalous and insulting for them, I guess."

Diego shook his head, disappointed, and his eyes condemned his cousin's actions, although he didn't say anything.

"Don't look at me as if I am the spirit of corruption, please. Not yet. I'll settle for reprobate ass instead."

"Carry on. Don't get distracted."

"She was very keen on our rendezvous, which usually took place at the Duke's mansion, at night. It was risky, but somehow, I loved the sense of danger, and using that place as my playground. After a while, I was very good navigating my way in the dark along the gardens and the corridors in that part of the house. Her faithful maids usually helped me in an out, and I never had any problems to get access."

"Why would you want to get involved with a married woman like that? And even worse, the wife of an influential man, and in his own house, of all places? I don't get it."

"Well, there is nothing to get. I am an idiot, we all know that. She was beautiful, and she was very keen on me. Cleaner and cheaper than any whore in Madrid —in fact, free—, and if she ever got pregnant, it would not be my problem. She agreed with that."

"Esteban…" Diego started, with a hand on his face, shaking his head, lost for words. "Why?"

"I know. I know. A pure, righteous soul like yours cannot possibly understand that kind of reasoning, but it made sense to me. Still does. Anyway, one night that we had not arranged a meeting properly, she wasn't in her room when I arrived. I wandered around that wing in the huge house looking for her. I was about to leave when I heard laughter mixed with a horrified scream behind a close door. And then I stumbled onto something I should not have seen."

"What was it?" Diego asked, because his cousin had stopped and was hesitating, avoiding his eyes. "Come on, you can tell me. I won't judge you. We are beyond that already."

Esteban looked at him in the eye then, and carried on, oozing resentful outrage.

*** WARNING: disturbing revelations here, which unfortunately, not only happen in fiction but in real life, and it is the kind of thing that makes me wish I could maim everybody involved for real with an axe, with instant castration. Don't read this bit if you think it may affect you in any way ***

"They were raping children, Diego. Several kids at the same time, all surrounded by men in small groups, like some kind of a ritual. They held them down between two or three of them, covering their mouth so they could not scream. And some women were involved too. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was standing by that door, frozen, mesmerized by the heinous, atrocious act, when this woman came to my side and asked me if I wanted to join in. Unbelievable. How could she think I would be interested in that, just because I fucked her silly nearly every night? How come having consensual sex with willing, adult women could be considered remotely similar to abusing children like that?"

Diego stared at him, silent, horrified by his words. That was something he wasn't expecting at all, and he didn't know how to react.

"Diego, it shocked me to the core they would think my kind of filth could be on the same level of depravation as raping innocent children. How on earth she thought I would join into that? Was that the distorted image I gave to the world, what people really thought about me?"

Diego opened his mouth to speak, but said nothing. He didn't know what to say, numbed by that gut-wrenching account.

"The old Duke himself was raping the nearest child to me, a little boy, about six years old at the most, while the other two lascivious bastards pinned him down on the bed. I grabbed that son of a bitch by the collar and pulled him away from that child, and then I kicked his groin and knocked that cabrón unconscious, smashing his evil face. God, that felt so good!"

"I bet it did," Diego said slowly, nodding like in trance, still digesting Esteban's words.

"I got my pistol, because I always carried weapons into that house, just in case, and made the other two let go of that child. I wanted to save them all, but there were too many men in that room, and they turned on me. I grabbed that little child with one arm and got out of there as fast as I could, carrying him with me, while some men followed us. Down that corridor I bumped into a group of women. The child recognized one of them: his mother. He called for her, with his little arms trying to reach her, and she got him off my arms. His own mother, Diego! She knew what was going on. I don't know if she was paid, or coerced to do it, or what, but she knew what was happening. And she let it happen. How could a mother let that happen to her own child? How?"

Diego could only shake his head, appalled.

"I was so shocked I stopped running, and they caught up with me. I don't know how I managed to get out of there alive, but I did. Guns went off, but none of the bullets hit me, and I fought my way out with my fists. I didn't go home that night, but when I did the next day, my mother told me some men had been there looking for me. And what followed blew my mind completely."

"What happened?"

"My mother knew all about this, but she had never mentioned anything to my father and me. Apparently, these monsters preyed on the orphans. They've been doing that for many years, like for ever. My mother found out when she started her charity work there, and she has been involved since then to protect those children, but she never told us a word. That's why she didn't want to leave Madrid when we did. And why these bastards had to look for kids somewhere else. She said they tried to set a trap for me, and she was proud I wasn't that kind of a pervert, even if she has always disapproved my ways."

*** I think you are safe from here if you don't want to know what happened***

"Your mother knew about that? My aunt Elena?" Diego said, unable to picture her delicate aunt dealing with something so sordid.

"Yes. I think I told you that when I talked to you as Zorro."

"Oh, yes. You did. Oh, God. This is… this is too overwhelming. I don't know what to say."

"I know. Don't say anything then."

"Did you report this to the authorities?"

"I tried, but it was pointless. Many people in influential, powerful positions, are involved in this shit. My mother said other people had found the upsetting truth, and tried to do something about it, but they are too powerful. Most of the whistle-blowers end up death. But she didn't think they would follow me to America. I think they only did because the Duke took this as a personal vendetta. Otherwise he would not have sent Berlanga after me."

"Yes, that makes sense."

"They tried to kill me three times over a couple of days after I saw that, so my mother made my father believe it was a great idea to take me out of Madrid, and even out of Spain. You know how women are, how they can manipulate men into believing our ideas are our own to keep us happy, and in denial about who's the one in charge. Well, my mother is quite good at that. So, my father "got in charge" and dragged me to Cádiz, where we boarded the ship at short notice. That way, my father would be safe as well at the same time, away from Madrid. I didn't think they would follow us here, but, did you realize how I insisted on carrying my sword most of the time, even if you kept saying weapons were not necessary in Los Angeles?"

"Now that you mention that, yes, and I thought that was weird. And very annoying for me as well."

"Well, that's why. It was a precaution. Just in case."

"One thing I don't understand: why is your mother only worried about you and your father? What about her? Isn't she in danger as well?"

"I asked her that too. She said she's protected, and that nothing will happen to her. She didn't get into the in and outs of that statement, and I don't know who is involved and how that works, because it seems quite an easy thing to do, to get rid of a little, apparently defenceless lady like her. But the man that asked for mercy at the plaza confirmed that. He said they can't touch her, for whatever reason, which is fine for me. I am more worried about my father, returning to that viper's nest now, because he doesn't have a clue what's going on."

Diego continued looking at him, out of words to say something helpful, or appropriate.

"Is that all?"

"Pretty much. Yes. What do you think?"

"I'm stunned. I don't know what to say. Can you get any legal action against these people?"

"I tried, in the first two days after that happened. But the whole system is corrupt. Many powerful people were involved. I saw a few of them in that house, and there are many more. For what my mother said, it goes all the way up to the top."

"Do you mean… to the King?"

"Maybe. I don't know."

"Can you get a list of the people involved?"

"I don't know why would you need a complete list of everybody involved, but if you ever need one, you can ask my mother. But I can tell you who I recognized that night."

Esteban dropped a few names then, which Diego also recognized. The list included members of the clergy, high ranked in the Catholic Church, as well as other members of the Spanish nobility, judges and magistrates, all sort of influential people, like some politicians and people in important public offices.

"I see what you mean. Complicated."

"Very."

"But, there must be something we can do."

"My mother said any kind of action against them wasn't worth it, because the system is so corrupt. However, the same way many influential, evil people are doing this, other powerful figures are against it. Apparently, it is like a battle ground in there. As I said, I didn't have time to get all the information, and she was quite reluctant to tell me everything, so I don't know what's really going on."

"Unbelievable. I didn't have a clue that could be happening in Madrid when I was there."

"Neither did I until this happened. So, now you know my troubles, as you wanted, but please don't talk about this, and, as my mother said, don't try to do anything about it, please. She said they are on it, whoever they are. Good job Madrid is so far away, or I'm sure you would ride in your black outfit tomorrow, if you could."

"You are damn right about that. Bastards!"

"Yes, that rage doesn't leave. Ever. Sorry I transferred that unsettling feeling onto you, but you insisted on knowing."

"You did very well keeping everything secret. I am impressed."

"Look who's talking: four years of a huge burden on your shoulders and nobody knew about it. Now, I haven't thanked you yet for all the times you saved my life."

"No, I think you did already."

"Well, I did when you acted as Diego, like when you stayed with me all night, breathing for me, but not as Zorro. Thank you for taking care of me, despite being so obnoxious and trying to steal your girlfriend and all that."

"Well, you also saved my life when you killed Berlanga, thank you. By the way, how do you feel about that?"

"About killing that bastard? Fantastic. And you should feel the same for impaling that other son of a bitch on the door."

"I wish I could take this kind of thing so lightly as you, but no, I regret that."

"Why?"

"Zorro doesn't kill. Neither does Diego."

"Did you have any other alternative? Did you?" He waited a moment, but Diego didn't answer. "No, you didn't. It was you or them. And they deserved it, so don't worry about it. The only one who didn't deserve to die was the one who asked for mercy. He could have given me more information about the situation in Madrid, but that hijoputa Ramón had to kill him too. Dammit."

He stopped talking when he heard footsteps at the first-floor landing, and then a couple of doors closing.

"They are going for siesta, I guess. I think it is time to leave."

"Leave where? To your room?"

"No. Leave-leave. The pueblo. I told you that's the plan."

"Please, don't do that. I'm sure we can think of something better than you running away now, looking half dead already."

"I have thought of something, but you would not approve. I told you before I owe you my life. But I think I know a way to repay you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing. Just and idea I have."

"Don't do anything stupid, please."

"No, I won't. Not stupid. Maybe idiotic, but it depends on your perspective."

"Esteban —," Diego started, but he didn't let him talk.

"Well, smartarse, el idiota has something to do," he said, kissing his cousin's forehead hurriedly before heading for the door. "Goodbye."

"Where are you going? Wait! What are you going to do?" Diego said, pushing the bed covers away to stand up.

"Adiós, Diego. Take care. I hope you are as happy as you deserve," Esteban said, leaving the room.

"Come back here!" Diego shouted, trying to get out of bed, struggling to stand up, because his legs still felt like jelly, and they could not support his weight. He slipped to the floor then, unable to walk, and then held onto the bed to lift himself up again, employing all his will to do so, but he fell back on the floor, where he lay still, looking at the ceiling. Mierda!

ZZZZZ