With Friends Like These

Finally, he reached down and patted the ebony stallion, murmuring praise to the indefatigable animal.  “Come, Tornado, let us see what we can do.”

In a very short time, Zorro had slipped through the open window of the room that Don Ricardo del Amo occupied.  Soft snoring sounds emanated from the bed, and the masked man slowly, silently pulled his sword from its sheath.  The point rested just under the sleeper’s chin.  There was a slight urge to go ahead and dispatch the cause of so much misery, but the idea was squelched almost immediately.

“Señor del Amo,” he said softly, touching the man’s chin with the point of his sword.  The caballero rolled over and murmured.  “Señor del Amo,” Zorro repeated.

As Zorro’s voice penetrated his consciousness, Ricardo jerked upright and stared at the black-clad figure.  His right hand slipped imperceptibly under his pillow, but the outlaw was watching.  As del Amo’s hand slid back out, Zorro flicked his wrist, and the sword point found the caballero’s pistol.  Soon, it was clattering in the corner of the room.

“I came here to talk, Señor del Amo, but I perceive that you were expecting me,” Zorro said, with a cold smile.

“Yes,” came the terse reply.  Anger flashed in Ricardo’s eyes.

“By pulling that dangerous trick this morning, you were assured of my visit.  Or perhaps that was your intent,” Zorro commented, making an educated guess.

Don Ricardo started in surprise, but said nothing for a few minutes.  “This morning was an accident,” he finally muttered.

“Accident?!” Zorro hissed.  “You consider this morning an accident?!  Would you happen to be stupid as well as irresponsible?”  The voice sounded as cold as the ice that occasionally formed on the edges of the ponds in winter.

Ricardo shivered slightly.  “A poor choice of words, señor,” he said softly.

“Yes,” Zorro answered.  He continued gazing at Ricardo, saying nothing else.

Finally, the caballero could stand it no longer.  The outlaw’s gaze was penetrating, as though Zorro could read his mind.  “Well, you said you were here to talk.  Say what you came to say and leave!”

“I suppose I am waiting for an explanation, Señor del Amo,” Zorro said mildly, although not feeling that way inside.

“Of the incident?”

Shrugging, Zorro replied, “Among other things, your purpose for being here.”  He paused for a moment.  “As to your joke, do you feel any remorse for what you have done?  Any remorse at all for the ruin of a man’s life and livelihood?” he asked, his voice rising in anger.

Ricardo was silent for a few minutes.  “I tried to hide my part, but Diego de la Vega knew immediately.  I did not mean for the servant to be hurt.  It was just supposed to be a joke.  Have you never played jokes on anyone?”

“Yes, I have, señor,” Zorro replied, remembering his well-conceived plots against comandantes and magistrados.  “But never intentionally against the innocent,” he added.  “And only when it was necessary in order to save a life.”

The silence lingered.  Zorro wondered how he could say the right things to make Ricardo understand, without revealing himself.  In the past, he had threatened his friend and had embarrassed him.  Apparently, neither had worked.

“What is the real reason that you are here?” Zorro asked, looking deeply into Don Ricardo del Amo’s eyes.  He immediately saw various conflicting emotions, and suddenly, inspiration flashed.  “You are here because of me.  You set up your prank for my benefit.”  Silence again.

“Sí, Señor Zorro.  I was determined to confront you.  I finally found someone I could really love, and you took her.”

“Anna Maria?” Zorro asked, in surprise.

“Sí, Anna Maria.  She loves you, and will not even consider me.  What are your intentions, señor?”

“That should have been clear, after all this time.  I cannot marry at present.  There are too many who depend on me.  I am bound to this duty, señor,” he said vehemently, amazed at his disclosure.  “Perhaps later.  And when I do marry, it will have to be to someone who can appreciate both sides of my personality,” Zorro continued, with a sad smile for that which had been lost.

There was a look of astonishment, and then remorse, on del Amo’s face.  “For months, I have tried.  ‘Zorro will return,’ she keeps saying,” he burst out.  “And you do not even consider yourself a rival!”

“Perhaps you will have better luck in the future.  Perhaps if you acted less the adolescent and more the mature man, she would respond more favorably to you.  And there would be much less suffering of innocents.”

Looking down at his restless fingers, Don Ricardo sighed, then looked up at the outlaw, but found himself alone.

ZZZZZ

The next day, as Don Diego was sitting and conversing with Bernardo in the library, a servant knocked and entered.  “Don Diego, Don Ricardo is here to see Bernardo.”

Diego’s eyes widened.  Ricardo entered, looking carefully at Diego and then at Bernardo.  The white bandage was an indictment against both men; Diego feeling the guilt of the backfired joke intended for Zorro.

“I am sorry, Diego, I truly am.  How can I convey that to your servant?” Ricardo asked.

“We have been developing some hand signals,” Don Diego hedged, and then he made some motions in the palm of Bernardo’s hand.  The servant smiled.

Don Ricardo sighed.  “I will be returning home, tomorrow.”

Diego just nodded.  “Good luck, my friend,” he said softly.  “And I, too, am sorry.”  Ricardo nodded and left.

ZZZZZ

The next morning, several miles outside of Los Angeles, a black-clad rider on an ebony horse stopped the northbound stage.

“Señor, I desire this letter to reach Monterey,” he said, handing the driver a sealed letter and several pesos to make the effort worthwhile.

“Sí, Señor Zorro, I will put it in the mail bag now.  It will reach the one you have intended it to reach.”

Zorro nodded.  He only glanced at Don Ricardo del Amo, who was peering out of the stage.  Somehow, he felt that Ricardo would make sure the letter got safely to Monterey and to Anna Maria.

Two weeks later, the doctor removed the bandage.  Bernardo blinked, looked directly into Don Diego’s eyes, and smiled.  Diego laughed and gave his friend a heartfelt hug.  Later when the doctor had left the room, Diego said, “Ah, Bernardo, we are a team once more!”  Bernardo nodded his head vigorously.  

THE END