Part Two
When they finally arrived in Los Angeles they settled into rooms at the tavern.
"Anna Maria, while I take my supper in the tavern downstairs I will have a meal sent up to you. Rest now dear, we have had a long ride."
She was indeed tired after the long ride and sleepless nights.
The next morning they set out to visit the hacienda of Don Gilberto. Anna Maria's eyes scanned the horizon as they rode. She was lost in thought.
"My dear, I remember that you had some affection for Zorro, is that correct?"
She was startled at the sudden mention of the man she had been looking for. Her heart stopped for a moment but she spoke calmly, " Sí, Uncle, why do you mention it?"
"Well, while I had my supper in the tavern last night I heard talk of how several nights ago some of the comandante's soldiers came very close to capturing Zorro."
"But they did not! Anyone can claim to have come close but who is to know that it is true. The soldiers could be boasting."
Uncle Verdugo put his hand to his chest and laughed, "I only repeat that which I have heard."
Anna Maria smiled. "I am sorry Uncle. Please forgive my rudeness."
At the Rodrigo hacienda they discovered that they were among many friends and family members who had come to pay their respects to the family of Don Gilberto. Anna Maria found herself standing next to Don Alejandro.
Diego's father bowed to Anna Maria solemnly. "It is good to see you Anna Maria but unfortunate that it is on so sad an occasion."
" Sí, Don Alejandro it was so sudden. I spoke to Josefina and Carlos. They are in shock over the death of their mother. Has Diego been here? I know that he and Carlos are good friends."
"No, my dear, regrettably he is unable to be here." He did not want anyone to know that his son was injured. Don Alejandro had heard from Benito, the head vaquero, that one of the soldiers claimed that he was sure he had shot Zorro the night of the chase into the canyon area. But still, he did not want to let Anna Maria go back to Monterey without giving Diego the chance to see her.
Don Alejandro was not sure what to do. Anna Maria already perceived his son to be a weak man. Perhaps seeing him ill would only compound this impression. Yet he must do something.
"Anna Maria, you and your Uncle must come to the hacienda tomorrow evening to take supper with us. It is so seldom that I get to see you both and I know that Diego would like to see you."
" Sí, Don Alejandro, gracias. I'm sure I speak for my uncle also. We would love to come."
Diego vaguely remembered being moved around as Bernardo changed the bedding. He had the impression of a spoon being pushed into his mouth, a cup put to his lips. He remembered waking in the night and seeing his father or Bernardo sitting by his bed. He was weak and could only stand with help and he had no idea why. He had no idea what had happened to him. All he could recall with any certainty was the overwhelming need to sleep. Days and nights passed and blended together.
"How long have I been sleeping?" Bernardo held up four fingers. "Four, you don't mean four days! But why, what happened?"
Before Bernardo could try to explain Don Alejandro walked into the bedroom. "Good Diego, you are finally alert. How do you feel?"
"I, I do not know. I do not remember what happened."
"I only know what Benito has heard in town. Do you remember narrowly escaping the soldiers? Do you remember how closely they followed behind you? You were exhausted and Tornado ...."
"Tornado! Yes, I remember he flew that night. Is he all right?"
" Sí, my son but on that night Zorro was injured but not too badly. You will only be a little sore for a while. But I think that you are exhausted, my son. Zorro has been very busy. It is good that you did not need a doctor to come to you because it would be difficult to explain why my son, the scholar, is so tired."
Diego touched his side. It was thickly wrapped and then he remembered the sudden hot pain along his ribs. He remembered how his valiant horse carried him faster than he thought possible into the safety of the dark night. He remembered that he had not the strength to take care of his brave Tornado and he remembered nothing else.
"Diego, it is good that you must rest now. You must rest and think about the importance of what you do. How the people need you. You cannot take foolish chances, my son."
"Some would say every time Zorro rides that he is taking a foolish chance, Father."
"Of course, you are right, Diego but we will speak of this later. But now I must tell you Anna Maria and her uncle are here in Los Angeles. It is for a sad occasion. You remember that Señora Rodrigo had been ill?"
Anna Maria was here - now. He had to get up. ... Señora Rodrigo ill? "Oh yes, but she was getting better."
"Sadly, Diego, she died four days ago. People are coming from miles away as they hear of it. That is why the Verdugos are here, to pay their respects. I have invited them to dinner tomorrow. Do you think you will be able to come downstairs tomorrow? I have mentioned nothing of any injury to you."
Diego let his head fall back on the pillows. He must be ready tomorrow. He must see her but not as an invalid.
"I will sleep now and tomorrow, whatever it takes I will be downstairs when Anna Maria and her uncle arrive."
He closed his eyes and Don Alejandro thought he was already asleep. He left his son's room and quietly closed the door.
In the dark Diego thought of the lovely, spirited Anna Maria. A hundred times he had swept her off her feet, sometimes as Zorro, sometimes as Diego. A hundred times he had proposed to her, kissed her, danced with her. It had been his plan to never be far from her. To keep the love she felt for Zorro alive but to somehow, slowly tell her through deeds and physical hints who Zorro really was. He dreamed of this constantly. When Diego was reading on the patio, it was really Zorro thinking of Anna Maria. When Diego was riding with his father, it was Zorro going to meet his Anna Maria.
Finally, he slept. It was a fitful sleep filled with dreams of losing the only woman he ever truly loved. He dreamt he was standing in front of her, reaching out to hold her to him and she looked past him and walked through him toward a dark figure in the corner of the sala.
"Bernardo, you are going to have to help me. I cannot hold this razor steady."
Before he could throw it down, Bernardo rescued the razor from Diego and finished shaving the rough beard that had started five days ago.
"I do not know how I'm going to get through this."
Bernardo made the sign of the Z in the air.
"What are you saying? You think I should go down to the sala as Zorro?", he said incredulously.
Bernardo shook his head and pointed to his heart.
"Oh, you mean be Diego but act as Zorro. Perhaps, but I am afraid Zorro might just fold up on the floor of the sala before the evening is done."
Bernardo exaggeratedly mimed a sympathetic woman fluttering her eyes at something at her feet.
"I just can't appear weaker than I already am as Diego. I want her to begin to see me as strong. I want her to begin to respect me as Diego, to love me as Diego. I do not want her pity, Bernardo!"
Bernardo patted the pillows on the freshly made bed. He could see that his irritable friend was getting tired and losing control of his temper. This was going to have to be done in stages. Wash, rest. Shave, rest. Dress, rest and then finally go downstairs.
Bernardo left Diego's room and closed the door. He could see a servant placing a silver tray of crystal wine glasses and a decanter of wine on the patio table below. As an afterthought he turned back to Diego's room and left the heavy door slightly open.
"Ah, Don Enrique, Anna Maria. Welcome. It is such a beautiful night I thought we should take refreshments on the patio before our supper. Please - sit down." Don Alejandro decanted wine into the small, shimmering crystal glasses. Light from the flickering lanterns cast a warm glow on the patio.
Her soft voice filled him with a mixture of feelings. Joy at her closeness and sorrow that he just could not muster the strength to join her for dinner. Diego lay on his bed fully dressed in his dark gray suit. He had been ready to go downstairs but even he had to admit that he did not yet have the strength to pretend that he was well. It was not going to work. He would not be able to see her.
They enjoyed the pleasant evening and banquet size meal. "I am so sorry that Diego could not join us tonight, Don Alejandro." Uncle Verdugo had thought that his friend had been very vague about why his son had not joined them but he did not pursue the matter.
"Yes, I know he is ... will be sorry not to have been with us tonight. Shall we have a cigar in the library? Do you mind my dear?"
"Please do. Oh, Uncle! The book, remember you were returning Diego's book."
" Sí, dear, I think I must have left it in the saddlebag. That is, if I remembered to take it from the desk at the inn after all. I am getting so forgetful. The plague of old age I'm afraid. Alejandro, your son had this wonderful book with him in Monterey and I admired it. He insisted that I borrow it and I wanted to make sure that it did not get lost in my collection."
“I will see if it is in the saddlebag, Uncle."
"Oh, Anna Maria, your horses have been put into stalls." Don Alejandro beckoned for one of the servants and sent him to fetch the saddlebag.
"I noticed no one denied I was getting old."
Anna Maria and Don Alejandro laughed. The sound of her laughter, like music, wound its up way to Diego's room.
The servant appeared in the sala with the saddlebag while the two men were in the library lighting up their cigars. Anna Maria thanked the man and found that, yes, her uncle had brought the book. She called out, "I will put the book in Diego's room." She had no idea that Diego had been home all evening.
Drawing on his cigar, Don Alejandro almost choked as he tried to call out to stop her. But she had already left the sala. With quick, light steps she was on her way up the stairs before he could say anything. The old oak door to Diego's room was slightly ajar. The quiet room was softly lit by only a few candles. Anna Maria wanted to make sure that the beautiful leather bound book with its gilt-edged pages was safely back in Diego's possession. She went to the desk, placed the book there and since there was stationery and a feather pen, she wrote a note to thank Diego on behalf of her uncle.
In the land between waking and sleeping Diego heard her voice, her laughter and in that land he joined her and shared in the conversation and laughter. He stood at the mantle and looked down into her dark eyes. In that land he would kiss her and she would not pull away.
Anna Maria turned to leave the room and suddenly she saw a dark figure stretched out on the bed. He did not move. His left arm lay across his face which was turned toward her. All she could see was his mouth and chin and she found this partial view of Diego’s face vaguely disturbing. Don Alejandro had given them the impression that Diego was not at home. She never would have burst into a man's bedroom if she had had any idea he was there. He seemed to be sleeping. She held her breath, clenched her fists and tried to leave as quickly and quietly as possible. She wanted to escape the dark room as quickly as she could.
Don Alejandro could tell by her pale face and agitation that she must have seen Diego. Had they spoken? What did he say to her?
"Well, Don Alejandro, what a pleasant evening but now if you agree, Uncle, I think we had better make our way back to the inn. Thank you very much for your hospitality. I hope that you will come to Monterey soon so that you can be our guest also. Of course, Diego too. Please give him my regards."
Don Alejandro looked deeply at her and she returned his look with a steady quizzical gaze.
On the ride home Anna Maria's Uncle broke the long silence, "You are very quiet, dear. Are you tired?"
" Sí, Uncle, it has been a long day. I will be glad to get back to the inn."
"We are almost there - such a dark night. Perhaps we should have accepted Don Alejandro's offer to stay the night."
"No, Uncle. I think it was best we return to the inn tonight."
Diego was her friend. Anna Maria could not think why she had been so upset in his room. Even if he had awakened what harm had she done? Obviously he was dressed. It was not her fault. She had been led to believe that he was not at home. She had not been so frozen nor felt so confused since she was a little girl.
She thought back to her childhood when she and her cousin were exploring outside the walls of her parents' hacienda. They had discovered an opening in the rocks, like a small cave. They had crawled into the small opening and were enjoying the cool darkness of it on a hot, sunny day. There was a sound of rustling far back in the little cave. They froze and listened, and then heard a low growl. The two little girls jumped, they held their breath, they couldn't move in their horror and suddenly, as fast as their little legs could carry them, they crawled and then ran out to the sunshine. Breathless with excitement and fear, they realized that they had crawled into the dark den of an animal.
Not since then had Anna Maria felt that way - not until tonight. Why in Diego's room, the room of a sometimes indolent but pleasant man, a man she considered a friend - why should she have felt that way? She couldn't understand any of it. But she was tired, perhaps in the morning things would sort themselves out.
There was a small fire on a dark, moonless night. It came to her in a dream. In the den of an animal Zorro's masked face was turned toward her. She spoke but he did not move. She would enter and leave the den all night but he still did not move.
Just before the dawn Zorro turned to her and in Diego’s soft voice he whispered, "Anna Maria." In the morning the fire was out and the den was empty. She awoke, shivering. It was very early in the morning and the breeze from the open window felt cold.
She drew the top blanket off the bed as she arose. Pulling it tight across her shoulders she went to the window and parted the curtains. She was disturbed by a dream but could not recall what it had been about. But she remembered that when she was a little girl how she and her cousin found the den of a fox.
Some time in the night Diego had been covered by a blanket. He had slept well and finally felt rested and stronger. He was going to be spared the effort of getting dressed since he was still wearing his gray suit from the night before. Into the cool, early morning air he stepped out onto the balcony outside his room and leaned on the railing. Looking over the wall of the hacienda he thought of Anna Maria and he spoke her name quietly, "Anna Maria."
Don Alejandro heard the clink of a cup on the patio table. From the top of the stairs he looked down. "Ah, Diego! It is good to see you are better."
"A day late, I'm afraid," he said bitterly.
Diego poured tea for his father as Don Alejandro came downstairs and joined his son at the table. " Sí, but at least you were able to see Anna Maria, even if only for a moment. What did you say to her last night?"
"Padre, what are you saying? Do you not remember that I did not join you?"
"Diego, I must have given Anna Maria and Don Enrique the impression that you were not at home. She went to your room ... with your book. Did you not see her?"
"No, Father. I, I don't understand what you are saying."
"Son, you lent Don Enrique a book. At the last moment Anna Maria wanted to take it to your room so that she would be sure you knew it was returned. Before I could stop her she was upstairs. I saw the book and a note on your stationery on the desk when I went in to cover you. Did you not see it? Are you sure she did not speak to you?"
Diego stared blankly at his father. "She must have come in when I was sleeping."
"Perhaps she did not see you. It was quite dark in the room … but she looked so strangely at me when she came downstairs."
"If she was in there long enough to write a note on my stationery I am sure she saw me. How did you explain all of this?"
"Well, that is just it. I did not - all I said was that you could not join us. They assumed you were not at home. Anna Maria said nothing about it when she came downstairs."
"I must see her, Father. What must she be thinking! What if she thinks I do not care enough about her to bother to come downstairs when she is a guest in our home! I must explain. How long will they stay in the pueblo?"
"They were going to leave today but Don Enrique and I began to talk business and now he wants to go with me to look at some cattle. In fact, Diego, he was concerned about leaving Anna Maria by herself."
"Could you send word for him to bring Anna Maria here while you and Don Enrique go about your business?"
" Sí, Diego but be careful. Do not foolishly tell her what it is not safe for her to know or safe for you, son."
Anna Maria did not know that she had in her hands the two most central pieces of the puzzle that was Zorro. These two pieces alone were a complete picture. She had put Diego in his room together with Zorro in the fox's den. She had put them together in her dreams, in her heart and in her soul but she would not allow her mind to know this or to believe it.
Anna Maria thought it would be interesting to hear what Diego would say to her today. " Sí, gracias. Tell them that my uncle and I will be there shortly - as soon as my uncle has finished his breakfast." The servant from the de la Vega hacienda touched his hat and left to give the message to his master.
Anna Maria could not understand what had happened yesterday. If Diego were ill why did Don Alejandro simply not say so? What other reason would there be for Diego to remain in his room? Perhaps they were not such good friends after all and it was of no importance that she and her uncle were visiting. But no, Diego may have flaws but he was a caballero, he had never been rude. It was strange.
Anna Maria and her uncle arrived at the de la Vega hacienda. Don Enrique shook Diego’s hand. "Don Diego, when did you return? We were sorry not to have seen you last night."
Apparently Anna Maria had said nothing to her uncle, if indeed she had seen him last night. Diego did not know how to respond to her uncle.
"Diego," Anna Maria interrupted. He took her hand and kissed it.
"Anna Maria. Come in Don Enrique. My father is in his study. He will be ready to leave in a moment."
"Bueno. I am very anxious to see these cattle. I have heard much about the breeding of cattle on the Milagro Ranchero. Now, Diego, I entrust my brother's daughter to you. Take care of ..."
"Uncle I can take care of myself. Diego, It is such a wonderful day. I would love a picnic. Do you think you could arrange it?"
"Nothing would give me more pleasure." Diego turned to Bernardo who had already heard. He made elaborate gestures to indicate that Bernardo should have a picnic basket put together. Bernardo, with a smug little smile on his face, made Diego go through the whole pantomime - much to his master's irritation. Finally, Bernardo pretended he had just understood. Diego gave his manservant a steady stare of annoyance as Bernardo, smiling broadly, left for the kitchen.
It was a beautiful day. The cool morning air had given way to a soft warm breeze from the south. It was a beautiful day because he had a second chance to see Anna Maria. Bernardo tapped the horses and the carriage moved forward smoothly as Diego and Anna Maria sat in comfortable silence behind him.
They rode for a while and then by prearrangement Bernardo doubled back to the box canyon area. Never had they voluntarily brought anyone to this area. Bernardo wondered at the wisdom of bringing Anna Maria to this place that was only paces from Zorro’s hidden cave but Diego was insistent. Bernardo was sure Diego would have seized the reins if he dared to disobey.
Slowing to a stop, Bernardo jumped down to get the basket from the shelf in back of the carriage. Diego offered his hand to Anna Maria. Accepting his extended hand, she stepped down. With a deep breath and a smile she strolled away from the carriage to take in the view of the canyon. Diego walked to the back of the carriage and stepped in front of Bernardo, making him back up. With every step that Bernardo took backward, Diego stepped forward, gesturing the puzzled Bernardo further and further away from the carriage.
Between clenched teeth Diego spoke very quietly. “Listen, my friend, I want you to stay back. Go ahead and eat your lunch, take nap if you want but you must let me do this. It is my chance to tell her and I may not have another. Understand me, Bernardo, I know what I am doing. I will not tell her what she is not ready to hear. But I must do this in my way and in my time. And the time, Bernardo, is now. I do not wish to wait any longer. Whatever her feelings for me are, I know that she will not betray me.”
He turned away and walked toward the only woman he had ever truly loved.
“Shall we walk a little?” she said. This rough country – I could just picture Zorro riding here, couldn’t you, Diego?” Her face glowed at the thought of Zorro.
He was doing something that Zorro never would have done. Never would Zorro make a move without a carefully laid out plan of action - and not just one, but several. Zorro always had a plan of action and a route of escape. Zorro’s military training, his strength, his planning and knowing the enemy - that is how he had survived until now.
Diego had no plan. He did not know if Anna Maria was ready to hear what he longed to tell her. He did not know if she would accept what he had to say to her. And once he had told her, there was no way out. What would happen next depended on Anna Maria and he would be at her mercy. Diego was giving up the control he had always been able to maintain as Zorro. At that moment, only paces away from the hidden cave, Zorro’s most dangerous enemy had become Diego de la Vega.
Until now Bernardo had always been able to calm the storm that brewed in Diego. It was a storm born of two clashing personalities held together in the space of one man. But this time Bernardo was not sure that he was capable of holding back his friend and master.
Long ago Diego had said, “You will become my eyes and my ears.” His master was reacting now with his heart. At this moment Bernardo knew he must also become Diego’s brain. Bernardo must be the one with the plan. But first he had to decide to whom he owed his allegiance – to Zorro, fighting for the people of the pueblo and of California against the oppression of a corrupt government or to Diego, his friend and master and after all, flesh and blood. Bernardo made his decision.
Diego was seated on a flat rock watching Anna Maria. She bent to pick some scraggly pink flowers. In between picking flowers she would stand and gaze at the craggy landscape. The sun grew brighter and Diego reached back and pulled on his hat to shade his eyes. He too looked at the slopes and sharp crests of the hills around them. He knew every crack and crevice. He knew where the narrow paths were that led into this canyon. Zorro always approached his hiding place from different directions, trying not to wear out a trail that would lead an enemy directly to him. And now he wondered, had he done just that?
“Anna Maria.” He patted the sun-warmed surface of the wide flat rock he was sitting on. “Come sit with me a moment.” She smiled and came to him, a small bouquet of wildflowers in her hand.
“This is such a beautiful place, Diego.”
“Yes, I enjoy it here also. I used to play here as a young boy.”
“I cannot even picture you as a small child, Diego - at least not out here. Somehow I think of you as a studious child, remaining close to home and reading.”
He smiled, “This is not very far from my home and no, I was not particularly studious then.” He looked down at the flowers in her hand and one by one he pulled a flower out of her bouquet and absently wound the stems together to form a chain.
