"The Operative"
Early spring turned into late spring and everything in the pueblo was going smoothly. Sergeant Garcia had taken up his belt by two whole notches, and the rest of the soldiers were shaping up as well. The increased lancer patrols kept the bandidos away and everyone could concentrate on their work.
In the weeks that passed ever more slowly, as there was little for him to do, Diego again began to entertain the thought that Zorro might have ridden his last. One afternoon, as he and Bernardo were riding back from a visit to Padre Felipe at the mission, Diego finally spoke his thoughts out loud.
"You know, Bernardo, the new Magistrado is quite good." Bernardo nodded in agreement. "I am beginning to think that as long as Señor Santiago remains our Magistrado, there will be no need for Zorro to ride. In fact, I have been thinking for a long time now that Zorro can retire permanently." Bernardo immediately looked worried. He made signs which said Diego had thoughts like that before and then the Eagle had come upon the scene. "I know, Bernardo. But this time it is different. Our Magistrado upholds the law and is just. With Sergeant Garcia as acting commandanté and Señor Santiago as Magistrado, we can be sure the law will be administered fairly and our district will be protected by regular lancer patrols. Surely you do not think that every commandanté, magistrado, or administrado who comes to Los Angeles will be evil, self-seeking men?" Bernardo nodded and then shrugged his shoulders to show his indecision. He was still reserving judgement on the current government official. "Well, I do not believe that," said Diego. "I know there are others in this country of ours who believe in the same things that we do, and I have come to believe Señor Santiago is one of them. And until you can show me proof he thinks otherwise, I will continue to believe that."
Bernardo looked at Diego closely. He could tell Diego was earnest in his belief about Santiago. He had learned to trust his master’s instincts since their arrival from Spain, especially in his assessment of men. But he had instincts too, and he was not completely settled concerning Santiago. But then, he was very protective of his young master, and had taken upon himself the task of watching over him. Perhaps that was all it was, being overprotective. Finally, Bernardo shrugged and said to himself that until he could prove to himself and Diego otherwise, he would accept that Santiago was what he appeared to be. He bowed in the saddle to show he accepted Diego’s last statement.
Diego laughed and said, "Ah, my suspicious friend. You will see." They rode on in silence for a few moments. Diego’s thoughts turned again to what he would do next with his life. He knew he did not wish to continue being the seemingly carefree Diego whom he had created so that Zorro could live, but how to stop? He could not just suddenly change into something different without questions being asked, especially by his father. He didn’t have the answer right now, but he would find it. He had to. With a quiet sigh, he looked sideways at Bernardo who was gazing out at the countryside as they rode along. Then a boyish grin found it’s way to his face. As long as he was still a young and carefree caballero, why not? "I’ll race you home!" he cried out and urged his palomino into a gallop. Bernardo was slack jawed for just a moment, then he put his horse into a gallop, trying to catch up. Diego was way out in front as he looked back once more at Bernardo, and he waved before he disappeared around a bend in the road. Bernardo pulled up sharply and thought for a moment. Then he turned his horse off of the road and they plunged into the brush.
When Diego rode up to the hacienda, he was astounded to find Bernardo leaning on the gate of the patio, twirling the reins of his horse in his hands, looking as if he did not have a care in the world. Diego leaped off of his horse in front of Bernardo. In his excitement, he said loudly, "How did . . . ?" At Bernardo’s caution, he lowered his voice to a whisper and said, "How did you get here ahead of me?"
Bernardo pointed across country. "That’s not fair!" said Diego in a loud whisper. Bernardo just smiled and shrugged his shoulders, taking Diego’s reins from his hands as he started to take the horses back to the stables, smug in his victory. He was pulled up short as Diego grabbed the tail of his jacket and would not let go. Pointing to the right leg of Bernardo’s trousers, just below the hip, Diego said dryly, "Your victory has ventilated your clothing, my friend." Bernardo turned and looked down at himself, seeing a rent in his trousers from his hip to the back of his knee. He grabbed the material and tried to hold it together with one hand while he held all the reins in the other. Laughing, Diego patted his horse on the nose and then patted Bernardo on the head as he walked jauntily into the patio. Bernardo was left to walk as best as he might to the stables with the horses, still holding his trousers together with a look of chagrin on his face.
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In the pueblo that same afternoon, a stranger rode into the plaza. Rather plain in most respects, a thick black mustache was his only distinguishing feature. He wore the clothing characteristic of the merchant class. Sergeant Garcia spotted the man as he tied his horse in front of the tavern and went to investigate.
"Señor!" he called. The man paused at the door of the tavern.
"Sí?"
"Señor, I must ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind," said Garcia, as he approached.
"What kind of questions, Sergeant?" said the man.
"I must know your name and where you are from," replied Garcia. "And what business brings you here to Los Angeles."
The man looked Garcia up and down, making the Sergeant uncomfortable for some reason, and then said, "My name is Claudio Lozano. I am a merchant from Santa Barbara and I have come to see if I would like to open a shop here in this pueblo." He looked around at the plaza. "Now that I am here, I am not so sure that this is a good idea." He shrugged slightly and then said, "But Señor Santiago told me this would be a good place to open a second shop in order to expand my business, and so I have come."
Garcia was relieved to hear that the Magistrado knew the man. "Ah, His Excellency, the Magistrado. Why didn’t you say so? His office is just over there," he said pointing to the building across the way. "I will take you there myself." He started walking toward the Magistrado’s office and Lozano had no choice but to turn and walk with him or be run over. They went up the stairs and Garcia knocked on the Magistrado’s door.
"Who is it?" came from within.
"Sergeant Garcia, Your Excellency!" said Garcia brightly. "I have a man here who has come from Santa Barbara to see you, Your Excellency!" Lozano just stared at the Sergeant as they stood there.
"You may enter," said Santiago.
Garcia opened the door and ushered Lozano into the office. Snapping to attention, he said, "Señor, this is His Excellency, Jorgé Martinez Santiago, Magistrado for the pueblo of Los Angeles." Indicating the man beside him he said, "Your Excellency, Claudio Lozano, a merchant from Santa Barbara."
Santiago stood up from his desk and smiled. "Ah, Señor Lozano. I see you have taken my advice and have come to our fair pueblo. Welcome." Lozano bowed deeply. Seeing the Sergeant still at attention, Santiago said, "Graciás, Sergeant. You may go now."
Saluting, Garcia left.
"You came in good time," said Santiago, looking back at Lozano.
"I came as soon as I got your message, Your Excellency," said Lozano.
"I trust the trip from Santa Barbara was uneventful?" asked Santiago.
"Sí, it was," replied Lozano.
"Sit down, we have much to discuss," said Santiago, nodding toward one of the chairs in front of his desk. When Lozano was seated he continued. "First, have you contacted our friend?"
"Sí. He was reluctant to have to leave his señorita at first, but . . . he came around," said Lozano with a small smile.
Santiago sighed. "Uresti does have his weaknesses," he said. "I trust he understands that I will have his undivided attention?" Santiago picked up his sword from his desk to admire the way light played upon its razor sharp edge.
"Sí, Your Excellency. I have made this clear. He knows who controls his fate," said Lozano.
"Excellent," said Santiago. "Things are beginning to come together, Lozano, and we have much to do. Everyone must be ready to do his part."
Lozano leaned forward and said, "May I ask what it is you intend to do, Señor Santiago? You know my loyalty to you has never wavered and yet you have not told me the specifics of your plans."
"Lozano, Lozano," said Santiago, his eyes still on his sword. "You know that I am a very careful man. Until my position here was secure, I could not afford any mistakes. The only way I could ensure that there are no mistakes was to tell no one of my plans." Suddenly, Lozano found the point of Santiago’s sword at his throat. He looked up to see Santiago’s dark eyes boring into his. "And that meant even you, my dear Lozano." Laughing, Santiago pulled the sword away from Lozano and leaned back in his chair. "In case you were inclined to do something foolish and found yourself in a position to talk." Santiago grew serious. "But now, I need you. And Uresti and the others. To you, I will tell my plans. As for the others, I will let them serve me in return for letting them live."
Lozano swallowed compulsively. He knew that he and all of Santiago’s men were alive at the pleasure of the Magistrado. One mention that they were involved with the traitor, de Varga, with the evidence which Santiago no doubt had concealed somewhere, and their lives were over. And there was nothing any of them could do about it. Santiago was untouchable as long as he held the evidence. But Lozano had thrown his lot in with Santiago. He knew of the man’s intelligence and subtlety. Varga had wielded himself like a blunt instrument. Santiago was like a stiletto. You would be dead before you felt the blade sliding between your ribs. Where he merely obeyed the Eagle, Lozano admired the Magistrado. He had been given back his life and he dedicated it to Santiago now. He returned his attention to the present as Santiago spoke.
Pointing vaguely to the east with his sword, Santiago said, "You know I toured parts of the United States of America before coming here to California? Yes? Well, I will tell you what I saw, Lozano. I saw the future of California." Seeing Lozano’s puzzled look, he continued. "Lozano, in just a few years, the Americanos will come here. Whether they are wanted or not, they will come. It is in their blood. Already they are expanding westward into the interior of North America, pushing aside the red Indians in their haste to acquire the land. It is my belief that they will not stop until they reach us here in California. Now what does California have to offer that is worth anything?" Lozano did not answer. "Land, Lozano, land. And the ones who control the land when they come will have their fortune made. They can sell the land to the Americanos at inflated prices and they will pay."
"But California is still a possession of Spain," said Lozano. "It would be illegal to sell land to foreigners."
"The King cares little for us here in California," said Santiago. "Already Mexico has won her independence. Only the misguided loyalty of the dons keep California from doing the same thing. The Eagle had the right idea when he sought to take over California and sell her to the highest bidder, but he executed it poorly. I use subtlety where he used force, guile where he used power. And that is where you, Uresti and the others, de la Vega the elder, and de la Vega the younger enter the picture."
"I do not understand," said Lozano.
"Of course you do not. But you will. Listen." Santiago leaned forward, "I have a plan which will, in time, allow me to purchase vast tracts of California land for a fraction of their value. All I have to do is punch one hole in the dyke and the land is mine. At the center of the dyke is Alejandro de la Vega, the staunchest patriot in all California. If I can get him to sell out, the other landowners will follow."
"And how will you do that? He will not sell." said Lozano. He was a native Californiano and he knew of Alejandro de la Vega.
"Yes, he will," said Santiago flexing the blade of his sword between his hands. "I have made a study of Don Alejandro and his son Diego. I have made discreet inquiries among their friends. I know how to get to Don Alejandro. Indeed I do. And all the other landowners in the district for that matter. The one thing the landowners, rancheros and peons fear is another uprising like that of the Eagle. They all suffered greatly during his attempted take over. Bandit attacks, oppressive taxes, enslavement, disruption of the military. There were many who were on the verge of leaving California at that time. But Don Alejandro talked them out of it and forged them into a civilian army to defend their homeland. Even now, with the Eagle defeated, it would not take much to tip the scales and get them thinking about leaving once again. They know that the King cannot help them and that the military is thinly stretched and under supplied. All it would take would be rumors of another usurper which are proven to be true against one of their own."
"Alejandro de la Vega?" guessed Lozano.
"He certainly has possibilities," said Santiago. "But Alejandro de la Vega is unassailable in that he is the hero who defeated your former leader who would be emperor. He has gained the favor of the Governor which makes it all but impossible to directly charge him with anything remotely approaching treason."
"Then who . . ." began Lozano.
"I have chosen young Diego de la Vega, the son of Alejandro de la Vega, to be the new usurper." Santiago laughed as he watch Lozano’s eyes widen in disbelief. "Yes, the son, the eccentric son, will be our target. And through him, Don Alejandro will fall."
Santiago continued. "I have studied the de la Vegas well. Old Alejandro is as proud an old bird as you will find. He has an old nobleman’s sense of honor and integrity. No one has ever questioned the de la Vega honor, integrity or loyalty to the crown. They would not dare, or old Alejandro would fight them to the death. He has an only son, Diego, whose mother died at a young age. The old man lives for one thing. To see his rancho and all that he has worked for to be handed down to his only heir. Four years ago, old Alejandro sent his son away to Spain to become a man and he returned . . . a soft poet, a scholar and a musician."
Lozano sniffed in mild derision and smiled. He had heard of this also.
"Yes, you might smile," said Santiago. "But old Alejandro did not. Alejandro took a great deal of pride in his son. He was bitterly disappointed. Everyone in the pueblo knows this. But everyone in the pueblo also knows old Alejandro loves his son deeply despite his failings. And that is what I will use against him, Lozano. I have carefully cultivated my reputation of the fair and just magistrado which appeals to the younger de la Vega’s imagination. His naivete about the real world might be charming in other circumstances, but it is merely useful to me now. We are going to set a trap for young de la Vega and when we spring it, he will be convicted and hanged for treasonous acts against the King. I know that this will devastate Don Alejandro. He will have nothing left for which to live. At the same time, we will continue to agitate the other landowners with tales and evidence of further conspiracies. I even plan to make use of this outlaw Zorro who has inhabited this district for some time. That is where Uresti comes in. He will be my Zorro, doing my bidding. I will continue to push at old Alejandro and his broken heart until he gives way and then he will sell out to me. Once he does, the rest will follow. I will buy up all the land I can at ridiculously low prices, ready to hold it and sell it to the Americanos when they arrive. Why, we may even make a few pesos selling cattle hides and tallow while we wait," laughed Santiago.
Lozano smiled also. He knew that he would have a place with Santiago as long as he was faithful to the man. "What then are your orders for me?" he asked.
"That is why I like you, Lozano," said Santiago putting his sword back into its sheath on his desk. "You always get right to the point and you never ask about money."
"You have always taken care of me quite well," said Lozano.
Santiago nodded. "Yes, I have at that. This then is what I want you to do . . ."
