In the next instant, a sharp, brief sound of impact rose up from the near distance, breaking the moment and silencing Diego's reply at his lips.
Luis Ramone rolled his pale eyes and lifted his gloved hand to brush at his brow as a string of labored exclamations followed the earlier intrusion.
As the sounds grew nearer and more distinct, Diego recognised a few, colorful, if good-natured Spanish curses and Luis Ramone's attack upon his brow deepened in its intensity.
With a heavy sigh, he begged Diego's indulgence and rose in an elegant flourish.
"That will be Hymie, he's been seeing to your... conveyance."
Diego found himself frowning slightly at the irregular and obsolete word, but in a moment of epiphany, it occurred to Vega that English might not be Luis' primary language.
Any further speculations were swiftly forgotten at the appearance of a bizarre silhouette framed by the doorway in the hallway beyond.
Stupefied, Diego found himself unsteadily rising, his hand catching at the furnishings to steady himself.
The approaching figure was clad in an archaic and exaggerated military costume complete with epaulets and a grand moustache, his unshapely form and whimsical expression bringing to mind more a toy solider than a genuine article.
After doffing his elaborate helmet, he came to stand at very loose attention.
"Mi Alcalde" he began, but then fell silent as Luis' brow lifted slightly in a subtle admonition. He began again, this time in English, confirming Diego's earlier hypothesis.
"It is in the barracks, Don Luis."
At this, Ramone initiated a brief round of introductions, and the newcomer, Hymie Mendoza, stepped forward to greet Diego warmly. Despite his joviality, Hymie's movements seemed labored and his breath was short. Bizarrely, the marks of thin tires were etched in a reddened dust on his back and shoulders, and with some embarrassment, Diego felt obligated to inquire at the source.
"I hope my conveyance hasn't given you any difficulty, Hymie."
"It was very heavy, Don Diego," the man began, bemusedly brushing at the marks, " but it was no trouble."
"You carried it!?" Diego stifled a smile at Ramone's incredulous expression.
"Si, mi..Don Luis. I did not know how to ride it."
The admission seemed to render Ramone speechless and for a moment the three men stood in silence. Then, the eye contact between Ramone and Mendoza seemed to deepen, as if some span of time had separated them and in that moment, each had reconnected to the other again.
Then both men laughed and after another long moment of connection, Ramone spoke at last.
"I'll see to Don Diego, go on and rest your back."
"Muchas gracias, Don Luis!" and with that, than man took his leave of Diego and departed, somehow just as bizarrely as he had arrived.