"The Offer and the Acceptance"
Lozano received a permit from the Magistrado for a general merchandise shop to be opened in Los Angeles. He purchased one of the buildings on the road leading to San Pedro, and soon had it well stocked with goods. He was a frequent visitor to the Magistrado’s office as he imported many of his wares from the other colonies of Spain in South America and from the Orient, and needed to acquire the necessary permits.
Lozano also frequented the tavern where he took his meals and kept a room. He did not purchase his own home in Los Angeles he said, because he had to divide his time between his establishment in Santa Barbara and the new shop in the pueblo. When he was gone, he left his new venture in the care of a man named Aredo whom he had hired as his assistant. Aredo was a quick and agile man, well liked by all of his customers. Everyone of substance in Los Angeles welcomed Lozano’s new shop because it carried the finer items which had never been abundant in Los Angeles. Fine linens and textiles, clothing and perfume, cutlery and china, these and more were available for purchase.
Santiago was amused at the tidy profit Lozano’s shop was making after being open for several weeks. The former Eagle’s man could have made quite a decent living on the sales he made to the Los Angeles upper classes. But they were after larger things. The store made a nice front for Lozano’s frequent comings and goings. He was to be Santiago’s liaison between him and all his other operatives. Through Lozano, Santiago could communicate his wishes to his men and be assured all was in place when the time came.
Neither man had ever seen the masked bandit Zorro in person, but based upon the descriptions they were able to get from Sergeant Garcia and others, they came up with a costume for Uresti to wear. Lozano secured a black horse in Santa Barbara and left it in the corral at Aredo’s home on the outskirts of the pueblo. Uresti would not have to leave his señorita just yet, but when he did he would have no problem in impersonating the outlaw. Santiago had carefully plotted in his mind how he would build his case against Diego and the bandit Zorro, and he was willing to take as long as necessary to make sure everything would go as he wished. Lozano reported his progress and took away new orders each time he visited the Magistrado alone.
Finally, Santiago was ready to make his first move. He would find an opportunity to speak with Diego de la Vega and he amused himself with the thought that the young don would never know what was going to happen to him until it was too late. The Magistrado knew he could have written up the formal charges against young de la Vega now, so sure was he of success. But he did not. While he had been absolutely meticulous in his planning, he was a realist and did not place the cart before the horse. He was ever mindful of the Eagle’s failure. He would not succumb to hubris.
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In the days just before spring turned into early summer, Diego rode into the pueblo alone, intending to spend some enjoyable time at the tavern. Bernardo had remained at the hacienda in order to do some spring cleaning and he had indicated that Diego would just be in the way. Pretending to be highly insulted, Diego nevertheless slapped Bernardo good naturedly on the shoulder and departed. As he dismounted and tied his horse to the hitching post under the trees in the plaza, he was greeted by Santiago, who was walking toward his office. Diego was happy to see the Magistrado. He often saw Santiago when he came into the pueblo and they had a familiar acquaintance.
"Don Diego, it is good to see you," said Santiago warmly, bowing slightly.
"Buenas tardes, Magistrado," said Diego returning the polite bow.
"I trust your father is in his usual good health? I have not seen him about the pueblo for some time," inquired Santiago.
"Oh, yes, my father is well. He is occupied with the spring cattle drives at present and so has little time to spare at the moment."
"It must be quite satisfying to have so many cattle to count that you do not have time for anything else," said Santiago with a smile.
Diego returned the smile, "My father thinks so, Your Excellency."
Santiago laughed. "I admire your sense of humor, Don Diego."
Diego continued to smile. Then, as he almost always did, he politely inquired about Señora Gracilia’s health. "Señora Santiago, is she . . .?"
Santiago shook his head negatively. "No, nothing has changed, Don Diego, except perhaps the medicine is no longer as effective as it once was. She has been taking larger doses to achieve the same poor results. But thank you for asking."
"My sympathies, Your Excellency," said Diego.
"Graciás." Santiago paused, then said, "Don Diego, I wonder if you would come up to my office? I have something I should like to ask you, and this seems like the perfect opportunity." Then looking at the tavern and back at Diego, he said, "Unless I would be keeping you from some more important engagement?"
Since Diego did not have any real plans, there would be nothing lost by going with the Magistrado. "Of course I would be delighted to assist you in any way possible," he said at once. "Whatever is in the tavern will still be there at a later time. I am at your service, Your Excellency." Diego bowed.
"Good. Come with me then." Together, the two men went up the stairs into the Magistrado’s office. "Please, be seated," said Santiago pointing to a chair in front of his desk. As he removed his sword and placed it upon his desk, he asked, "Would you care for some wine?" At Diego’s nod, Santiago poured a glass and served it to Diego before pouring his own glass and seating himself in his chair.
Diego’s eyes lingered upon the hilt of Santiago’s sword as he sipped his wine. He remarked again to himself at the fine workmanship in the engraving. He had not had an opportunity before now to study its design so closely. This time he noted that the initial denoting Santiago’s name was more than it seemed. The ornate letter "S" was artfully engraved in the likeness of a serpent. It was not obvious until you looked very closely. Diego was further impressed that Master de Vida had gone to such expense for a student of his. There was no doubt that the design was the work of a master sword maker. The scabbard was equally well made. No wonder Santiago had such pride in wearing the gift. His thoughts were interrupted as Santiago spoke.
"Don Diego, you see before you someone who needs help," he said. Santiago was pleased by the puzzled look on Diego’s face. "I know, it seems strange I should say that, but hear me out. I find myself in need of someone who knows the surrounding countryside and its people to assist me. I had thought of your father or some of the other landowners, but as you say, they are all busy counting their cattle and running their ranchos and it would not be fair to pull one of them away from their primary duties. So, I was wondering if you, Diego, would be willing to work with me? I know you are an intelligent man and that you have been educated in Spain. You know the people of the district and they know you. I know you believe in the cause of justice just as I do. We are alike in this. What do you say to such a request?"
Diego could not help but be flattered. Most, if not all of the people of the district liked him well enough, but the persona he had assumed since his return from Spain had left everyone thinking that he was basically useless. And now the Magistrado was seeking him out, asking for his help. Still, his cautious nature asserted itself, and, as he looked over the wine glass he held in his hands, he asked, "May I inquire as to the nature of this work I would be doing, Your Excellency?"
Santiago smiled, seeing the caution in the young man. "This is a big district, Diego. There are many matters which must be handled through this office. I want you to join my office as an assistant deputy to the Magistrado to help me in the performance of my duties. I will send you out as my personal representative when I am unable to go myself. In time, as you learn, you can be given more authority to handle legal matters in the field using your own judgement and knowledge of the law, bringing to me only those cases which are of sufficient magnitude to require my personal attention. This last will take time, of course, and must be approved by the Governor himself, but I do not foresee any difficulties in that regard. For now, though, I need someone who can go to the people and gather information regarding the various cases that come before me. Someone the people can trust. My predecessor seems to have made the people fearful of anyone in my position and it is quite often not very easy to get accurate information from them. Sometimes they will not tell me anything useful at all. I am hoping you will be my answer to that difficulty. One must have accurate information if ‘justice is to be served.’" This last was said with a warm smile.
Diego smiled and raised his glass to salute the Magistrado’s motto. He knew the truth of what Santiago was saying. Carlos Galindo had been utterly ruthless in his dealings with the people as the Magistrado, bending and twisting the law to further the plans of the Eagle. Many of the district’s inhabitants had been hurt by this. They all continued to be somewhat fearful of any government official, even though Jorgé Santiago had never been anything other than fair in his dealings with them. Diego was intrigued by the offer. He could see this position which was being offered to him as another way he could help his people, the same people he had sworn to protect as El Zorro. He could help heal the land and its people from the ravages of the evil men who had tried to take over California and try to restore the faith in and loyalty to the government of His Majesty. And perhaps most of all, it would give his life purpose again and fill the void created by the idleness of Zorro. Zorro had been created to secure justice for the people and Santiago was offering Diego a chance to adopt the Magistrado’s motto as his own. Justice is served. He took a deep breath. His decision was made.
Lifting his chin and looking directly into Santiago’s dark eyes, Diego said , "I would be most honored to help in anyway I can. I will accept your offer, Your Excellency."
Santiago had watched the play of emotion across the young man’s face. He knew this man. He knew that the concept of justice as an ideal was very attractive to Diego. Young intellectuals were often overtaken by the romance of such things and Diego was no exception. Santiago was pleased that he had Diego’s measure.
"Excellent," said Santiago with a smile. "We can begin in the morning. I have a case pending between two rancheros living at the southern end of the district. Señores Morales and Piñeda. You know them, do you not?"
Diego nodded and said, "Yes, I have known them since I was a child."
"Splendid," said Santiago with enthusiasm. "That is exactly what I had hoped. It is a case of property boundaries. I will send you to speak with both parties and look over the situation yourself. Then you can report back to me with your findings. Come by my office at nine o’clock in the morning and I will issue the official documents naming you my assistant and give you the information you will need for your task. I am very glad you have decided to work with me. Together we will make this the best district in all California."
The Magistrado rose and Diego did likewise. Coming around the desk to face Diego, Santiago held up his glass and said, "To justice and truth. May we keep both in our hearts as a sacred trust."
Diego found his soul resonating with Santiago’s words. "To justice and truth," he repeated. Then he touched his glass to that of Santiago’s and both men drank.
They placed their glasses on the desk and Santiago put his hand on Diego’s shoulder as he led him to the door. "In the morning then. At nine," he said.
"At nine, Your Excellency," said Diego bowing.
Santiago watched the young man go down the stairs and out into the plaza, making his way toward the tavern, his original destination. He smiled contentedly to himself because the first nail in the coffin of Diego de la Vega was firmly in place. When the last one was driven home, the de la Vega rancho would be his.
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That evening, Diego made his announcement at the supper table.
Casually dabbing at the corner of his mouth with his napkin, he placed it upon the table and said, "Father, I have been asked by Señor Santiago to enter into His Majesty’s service as an assistant deputy to the Magistrado, . . . and I have accepted."
First Don Alejandro and then Bernardo, who, fortunately, was standing behind the elder de la Vega, looked at Diego in stunned silence. Finally, Don Alejandro cleared his throat and said, "This is rather sudden isn’t it, Diego?"
"Yes, Father it is," said Diego, who was rather enjoying the sensation he had made.
"What has brought this about?" was his father’s next question.
"Señor Santiago approached me today and said he needed someone the people trusted to help him with his work, and he chose to ask me."
In a statement expressing wonder, Don Alejandro said, "And you accepted."
"Sí. I accepted," Diego affirmed.
Don Alejandro just looked at Diego for a moment. Then he leaned back in his chair and said, "Humph. Well, I must admit to being completely surprised by this latest event, my son, though I must say that I am pleased to see you taking part in the civic matters of this pueblo at last. It will certainly be a much better use of your time than whiling it away in the tavern or buried in your books. When do you start?"
"In the morning, Father. I am to meet the Magistrado at nine o’clock." Diego was happy with his father’s acceptance of his new job, grudging though it was. In this new position, Diego saw a way to gain the respect from his father which had been lacking since his return from Spain. It would be a way to transform himself into a useful member of society, someone whom his father would be proud to call his son. He would work very hard at his new position to make that happen.
Don Alejandro reached over the table and took Diego briefly by the arm as he said, "Well, I wish you all the best, my son." Diego was warmed by those words. His father continued, "The Magistrado seems to be a man of honor and someone willing to do what is right for the people. I have heard nothing but good reports about him since his arrival, and his dealings with me have been fair concerning the shipments of hides and tallow we have made." Don Alejandro cocked his head to one side as he said, "It would seem that if you had to chose another man to work for, you could not have chosen one better."
"Graciás, Father," said Diego, even though he felt the light sting of his father’s last remark. But he was not going to let it dim his happiness.
After supper, Diego and Bernardo went upstairs to his room. Diego deliberately ignored Bernardo who was trying to make eye contact with him until the servant had become quite exasperated. Then laughing, Diego sat on the edge of his bed and said, "All right, what do you want to tell me?"
Bernardo gave Diego a stern look, berating him for ignoring him like that. Diego held up his hands to fend off the look and said, "Forgive me, my friend. Now what is it you wish to say?" Bernardo softened his look and then began to sign. Diego said, "Yes, I am sure this is what I want. Why do you ask?" Bernardo signed some more. "I am aware that having a job with the Magistrado will take up a lot of time." More signs. "But there is no need for Zorro now. And I can accomplish the same thing by working with the Magistrado. I can work for the good of the people in a new way." Bernardo put his hand to his forehead and walked back and forth a few times while he thought. Then he signed some more, making the sign of the "Z" and making motions as if he were pulling a sword and dueling with someone. "There have been many times when only the sword of Zorro stopped an oppressor," agreed Diego. "But with our new Magistrado and with Sergeant Garcia in charge of the cuartel, I do not think there will be a need for Zorro to draw his sword any longer." Bernardo still did not look convinced. "But you must admit, Bernardo, that from what better vantage point can I keep track of the goings on in the pueblo than in the Magistrado’s own service? If there is any trouble, we shall be the first to know about it. Then the trouble can be taken care of before the need for Zorro’s sword becomes necessary." Bernardo was forced to concede reluctantly that it was possible.
Feeling empathy for his servant, Diego said, "Bernardo, you are my closest friend. You have been as much a part of Zorro as I am. I understand that you want to keep him alive. But are you not willing for me to give this a chance, to see if it will work? Being Zorro is dangerous business for me, for you, and for my father. If I can accomplish the same things, with less risk for all our lives, is it not worth trying?"
Bernardo sighed as he came to understand what his master was seeing in this new position. And Diego was right as usual. The goal was to be the people’s protectors and see that justice was administered fairly. And he loved his master, there was no question about that. How many times had he waited in the cavern or in Diego’s room worrying about his young friend? Wondering if he would come home alive after each adventure? His own life did not matter as long as Diego was safe and Don Alejandro, also. So indeed, if Diego could accomplish the same things without the daily risk of dying on the point of a sword or having a rope around his neck, then perhaps he should do so. Who was he to tell his master what he should do? Slowly he nodded to show that he understood.
Diego had watched his servant closely as Bernardo thought through what had been said. He could have just ordered Bernardo to accept what he had been told and to stop trying to change Diego’s mind, but you did not do that to a friend. He was glad Bernardo had finally understood what had moved Diego to take this position with the Magistrado and why Zorro might never have reason to ride again. He needed Bernardo’s support and friendship, and he knew that it was out of Bernardo’s deep sense of loyalty he had questioned Diego’s decision, trying to make sure that Diego was not doing something foolish in leaving Zorro behind.
Diego stood and put his hand on Bernardo’s shoulder and the servant looked up at him. "We will not be turning Tornado out to pasture just yet, Bernardo. Nor will we pack Zorro’s costume away in a trunk. We will keep them handy just in case. But after a time, I think you and I will both agree these things will no longer be necessary. I will send Tornado back up into the hills with the old sheepherder and a few choice mares." Bernardo smiled. "He will have sons and grandsons. Just as someday my father will, eh?" Bernardo joined Diego in a wide grin and nodded his head. He knew how much Don Alejandro wanted grandchildren and he knew that someday Diego wanted to be able to present him with some. "Come then," said Diego. "We will go and see to Tornado and then it’s off to bed. I have an early appointment tomorrow."
