"Chains on the Heart"
When Diego came to, he lay motionless for a moment, too groggy to think. Then he rubbed his face with his hand, and tried to sit up. The world spun around for a few moments before it finally came to rest. The terrible ache in his head pounded for a space and then settled down to a dull throb. Taking notice of the moon, which was just rising, he judged it to be quite late in the night. But wait. Why was he seeing the moon through vertical bars? Bars that looked like those of a jail? He blinked several times and tried to get his bearings. Finally it penetrated his mind that he was indeed in a jail cell. Then he remembered the night’s events. Zorro. Hidalgo. The realization of the trap to which he had fallen prey.
He heard a soft rustling and turned to see Bernardo looking at him from the cell next to his with a worried expression. So both of them were imprisoned. That answered one question. He waved a hand at Bernardo to show he was all right and saw his servant smile in relief. Looking around to see that they were not being observed, he leaned next to the bars and asked in a low voice, "Are you all right?" Bernardo nodded to show that he was, although he rubbed the back of his head ruefully. "If that is where they hit you, then I know you are not hurt, you thick headed fellow," Diego said fondly, glad to see his friend was not badly hurt. Bernardo nodded and pointed to the back of his head and then at Diego. "Sí, my friend. I suffered the same fate. You saw the whole thing?" Bernardo nodded and put his hand behind his ear to show he had heard everything as well.
"We have obviously been set up, Bernardo," Diego said with conviction. Bernardo nodded thoughtfully. It was the only thing that made sense. "You were right to be concerned about the meeting with the false Zorro. What he said had all the airs of being rehearsed and Capitán Hidalgo was too conveniently close by. I’m sure what was done was for an audience, but I did not see anyone around. Did you?" Bernardo shook his head no and winced at the twinge of pain the motion caused. He put his hand on his sore spot again. Diego continued, "At any rate, we have been framed. The money and that document were part of the plan. I wish I knew just what the paper contained, but the Capitán took it before I had a chance to read it. Whatever it said seemed to satisfy Hidalgo that I am a traitor and conspirator with the imposter." Diego sighed. "We need answers, Bernardo. Who set us up? And why?" Bernardo shrugged his shoulders and held up his hands helplessly.
Diego got up, careful of his balance, and went to the bars of his cell. "Guard!" he called, as he rubbed the tender spot on the back of his own head. "Guard!"
"What do you want?" came the gruff response of Fuentes.
"I wish to speak to the Capitán," said Diego.
"The Capitán cannot be disturbed."
Diego drew himself up with all the dignity he possessed under the circumstances and said, "I am the Assistant Deputy Magistrado and I wish to speak to the Capitán. Now!" The last word was spoken quite loudly.
Fuentes pointed his musket firmly at Diego’s mid-section. "I said the Capitán cannot be disturbed, Señor. You will be silent or I will silence you. Permanently." Fuentes was not going to back down. He had already incurred Hidalgo’s disfavor once tonight. He would not do so again. Not for anyone.
Diego held up his hands and backed away from the bars to show his compliance. Apparently any influence he’d had as a government official or as a hacendado was lost on this man. Fuentes watched closely for a moment, then walked back to his post, shouldering his musket.
Bernardo motioned to Diego and made the sign of the "Z" in the air as he shrugged his shoulders.
Diego moved closer to Bernardo and spoke in low tones so the soldier could not hear. "Sí, Bernardo. We need El Zorro to rescue both of us this time. But he is being detained at the moment," Diego said with a lightness he hoped was genuine. Bernardo sighed. Both Diego and Bernardo spent the next few moments examining their cells, seeking a way out. Bernardo had lost his little lock pick when he had been knocked out. Where it was, he did not know. They both knew the cells in Los Angeles were not the best in the world, but they were much better than the cells of Santa Barbara. At least Sergeant Garcia had his cells cleaned from time to time. These had not been cleaned in quite a while. Despite that difference, these cells had one thing in common with those of Los Angeles. Without a key or a way to pick the lock, there was no way out.
Diego was feeling a little desperate now. He had never liked being in a position of helplessness and being locked up without an avenue of escape was chafing. Even if he found a way out and then chose not to use it, he would at least have some measure of control over his fate. He would rather have the matter cleared up with the Capitán than to run like a criminal and then hope to plead his case. But a fair hearing before Hidalgo might not be possible given the Capitán’s dislike for Diego. It would be nice to have an alternative plan, he thought as he looked around his cell once again, but apparently that was not possible.
"If only my father or Señor Santiago were here, we would soon get to the bottom of this," he said to Bernardo softly. "Everyone knows I am no traitor and neither my father nor the Magistrado would leave one stone unturned to see that true "justice is served" in my case." Bernardo just shrugged his shoulders and held up his hands as he shook his head, unconvinced. Diego looked at him for a moment, then glanced at Fuentes who still had his back to them. "You do not mean to imply that my father would not come to my defense, do you?" he asked with narrowed eyes. Bernardo shook his head emphatically, no. Then he held up two fingers and pointed to the second one. "The Magistrado?" Bernardo nodded. "You are trying to tell me the Magistrado is mixed up in this?" Bernardo nodded, shrugging slightly to show that he had no real proof, only his gut feelings. Diego studied Bernardo for a moment. He respected his servant’s instincts, but he had to be wrong in this case. Despite all which had happened, Diego was not willing to entertain the idea that the man he looked to as an honorable representative of the law and a leader in the cause of justice was mixed up in this whole affair. Not yet, anyway.
Before he could say anything further on the subject, their attention was drawn to the commandanté’s office. Two men were coming out and heading their way. One was Hidalgo and one was Señor Santiago, the Magistrado. Diego recognized him even in the gloom of the night by his stature and bearing. Diego was surprised to see that Santiago was here in Santa Barbara. After all, he was supposed to be back in Los Angeles conducting the search for the missing child. Bernardo looked meaningfully at him.
Diego did not respond.
He couldn’t.
Santiago walked boldly over to Diego’s cell followed closely by Capitán Hidalgo. Characteristically gripping his sword, he gazed upon Diego for a long moment with a cold air of superiority which seemed to slip from him unawares. His eyes were pools of darkness that Diego could not plumb. Diego had never seen this aspect of the Magistrado before. It brought back resounding memories of the former Magistrado, Carlos Galindo, and of José Varga, the Eagle. They, too, had maintained such an air. But Diego considered he must be mistaken. Jorgé Santiago was not such a man. He had worked too closely with the Magistrado to have missed that.
"Magistrado," he bowed and greeted Santiago.
"De la Vega," said Santiago coldly. Not even cursory courtesy was being extended to him. This set Diego aback. He felt the first sensations of dread running up his spine. Santiago’s next words confirmed Bernardo’s suspicions and dragged an unwilling Diego to the same conclusion as the Magistrado spoke over his shoulder to Hidalgo in a dry and condescending tone. "A traitor, Capitán. We have caught ourselves a traitor. How fortunate, my dear Capitán, that you were in the right place to capture young de le Vega here. The money and the document which you found on his person should be just what I need to prove my case of conspiracy and treason against the prisoner." Then he paused for effect as he delivered his next words. "Everyone will see that under my rule, justice will indeed be served." Santiago then smiled, but his dark eyes were hard.
"Sí, Excellency," said Hidalgo, smiling in his turn.
At this moment, Diego knew absolutely without a doubt Santiago was the one who had set him up. If Santiago had been the fair and honorable Magistrado he claimed to be, he should have been asking Diego for his side of the story. But he did not. His conclusions about Diego were already fully formed. The ground seemed to sink beneath Diego’s feet and he gripped the bars of his cell tightly to keep from swaying. The word "betrayed" did not begin to cover what he felt. And not just because he was charged with a crime. He had been charged with many crimes as Zorro. He had even been charged with the crime of being Zorro. No, it was because he had been betrayed by a man who purported to be a man of the law, a man of justice, a man whom Diego had admired and worked with side by side. He had given his complete trust to this man and he had used Diego for his own purposes, whatever they were. Diego tasted a vile bitterness in his mouth. Through clenched teeth he said, "Do not think I will not fight this, Señor Magistrado. I am no traitor and you know it."
Santiago laughed. "You? Fight? You are in no position to fight. The evidence is overwhelming. I have unimpeachable witnesses. You will be tried, convicted and hanged as a traitor, de la Vega. As will your servant."
Diego stood at the bars of his cell, right in front of Santiago, eye to eye. "My father will find out all that has happened and he will apply to the Governor for help. You have been the wolf in sheep’s clothing, Señor Magistrado, but the Governor is on the side of the law. He will see that true justice is done."
"You are wrong, young de la Vega," said Santiago. "I am not the wolf. I am the serpent in your garden of naivety." Diego’s eyes held Santiago’s for a moment, then dropped to focus on the ornate hilt of Santiago’s sword. As if reading Diego’s thoughts, Santiago traced with his finger the sinuous curves of the serpent engraved there which flashed in the lamp light. "Deceiving you was just as easy as convincing Eve to taste the forbidden fruit. Perhaps easier." Santiago smiled. Diego clenched his teeth. He could not argue with the observation. Santiago continued, "Now listen carefully." His eyes grew hard and the smile disappeared. "I have a self-made destiny which I intend to see fulfilled. You, my young friend, are unfortunately a casualty of that destiny. Your father will become another casualty . . . unless . . . "
"My father?" said Diego, becoming utterly still with dread. "What is this ‘unless’?"
"Unless you keep your mouth closed. Evidence has been ‘found’ which will convict you as a traitor. How hard do you think I would have to search to ‘find’ evidence to name your father a traitor as well? A co-conspirator with you perhaps? And, in any event, I control the military both here and in Los Angeles. Your father would never have a chance to reach the Governor."
Diego considered this. He knew the power the Magistrado wielded in the district. It was the same problem he had encountered with Capitán Monastario when he first returned from Spain. With the military under his control, Santiago effectively had his own little empire within the district. Zorro had been effective against Monastario because he had not gone up against him head to head, but had used his cunning to harry and disrupt the commandanté’s plans. To do this, he had to work outside the law while at the same time pursuing justice for the people. The Magistrado was a much more formidable foe however, because he also used cunning. His serpent had been so very well hidden that not even Diego had seen him until he was well bitten. Santiago’s reputation with the people of the district, the military and the Governor was beyond reproach. To make accusations against him without concrete proof was folly. However, should the Magistrado make accusations of treason against his father, given what he had just done to frame Diego for that particular crime, Diego had no doubt the outcome would be assured. Diego looked into Santiago’s dark eyes and saw his father’s death written there unless he agreed to comply.
Santiago watched Diego with satisfaction. He could see the thoughts churning in the younger man’s mind. He had him right where he wanted him. Diego was too softhearted to see his father harmed. He would do anything rather than risk that. He smiled. Just to make sure Diego was seeing the whole picture, he said, "You understand, do you not, if you say one word to your father, defend yourself in any way to anyone, his lifeless body will swing next to yours on the gallows as a traitor? There will be three corpses hanging there instead of two?" He saw in Diego’s face the answer he expected. "Good. Then we understand each other. You will be constantly watched and everything you say or do will be reported to me. Do not disappoint me. Remember. Your father’s life is in your hands."
Turning to Capitán Hidalgo, he said, "Capitán. You will personally escort these prisoners to Los Angeles when it is time. The trial will be held there and Judge Vasca will be presiding." Hidalgo bowed in acknowledgment. "You see, Diego?" Santiago said, returning to the prisoner. "Only the finest judge will do for the trial of the son of Don Alejandro de la Vega. When he hands down the verdict of guilty, there can be no question of his impartial judgement. Everyone knows Judge Vasca is the most honorable and most honest judge in all California. Do you not agree, Diego?" Diego knew all about Judge Vasca, but he chose to say nothing to Santiago, who was just toying with him now. Seeing there was no response from his prisoner, Santiago said to Hidalgo, "I am returning to the inn now. Take good care of our guests."
"Sí, Magistrado," said Hidalgo.
Turning back to Diego, Santiago said with a smile, "I trust you will not object to my taking your room for the night? I see that you have other accommodations." Hidalgo laughed out loud at this. Santiago walked away briskly, rather pleased at his joke. Hidalgo escorted him to the garrison gates.
Diego was seething. He watched Santiago as he was leaving the garrison. He paced back and forth a few times and then his eyes met Bernardo’s. Without words, he acknowledged his friend’s acumen regarding Santiago. Bernardo nodded solemnly. It did not please him to be right in this instance. For Diego, the worst thing about his predicament at the moment was that he had no answer to the question which now burned within him. Why was he being framed as a traitor? Just what was it his death would buy?
Desperately, Diego called out through the bars of his cell, "Please, just tell me one thing, Señor! Why? Why have you done this?"
Santiago did not turn around but kept walking. His laughter floated back to Diego on the night air. That was all the answer he was going to get. Diego stared after Santiago for a long time, continuing to seethe inwardly. Finally, he rattled the bars of his cell in anger and threw himself on his bed to think.
He realized that as long as he was held prisoner, he could do very little to help himself. Bernardo was imprisoned in the cell next to his and was just as helpless as he was to do anything. The soldiers under the command of Capitán Hidalgo were a hard lot. If he had unlimited time, he might have used the Fox’s wiles to provide a means of escape for both he and Bernardo, but their prospects looked dim. Because of Santiago’s threat, he could not involve his father in an escape attempt once they reached the pueblo of Los Angeles. And, as he thought about it, any escape attempt by him or Bernardo might bring Santiago’s threat down upon his father whether the attempt took place here, or in Los Angeles. He sighed. Santiago had read him right enough when he had made that threat. He would do nothing to endanger the life of his father even if it meant the laying down of his own life. How could that man have read him so clearly and yet he had failed so utterly to read the intent of Santiago’s black heart?
Diego sat up on his bed and leaned back against the wall. Bernardo, sitting on his own bed, was looking at him through the bars between their cells. In a low voice, so that no one else could hear, Diego said, "Well, my friend. This is it. The Magistrado has us neatly caught and our fate seems to be ordained. I can see no way out of the trap which does not doom my father as well. We must not try to escape, nor can we defend ourselves, or Santiago will carry out his threat. I absolutely have no doubt of this. He has dropped the veil between the two of us and I see him now for who he really is. I see now his utter ruthlessness, which you somehow sensed and tried to warn me about. I will not trade my father’s life for my own and the Magistrado knows it. Know this, however. I will plead for you to be released when we are tried. Judge Vasca is a good man. He may listen to me when I tell him of your ‘condition’. You need not die just from your association with me. You did not ask to be thrust into this." Diego gazed at the floor.
Bernardo did not move for a few moments. He knew the anguish his young master was feeling at being so neatly trapped that nothing could be done to help himself or his servant. Bernardo, himself, felt so inadequate because he had not been able to express to Diego just why he had felt that Santiago was so dangerous to his young master. If Diego died, then his life would have no further meaning. He could not live knowing he had failed his master. He put his hand through the bar and touched Diego’s arm to gain his attention. When Diego looked at him, he began to sign. Loosely translated what he said was this: "Where you lead, my master, I will follow. Where you go, my master, I will go. If you live, my master, I will live. If you die, my friend, I will not live." Tears chased themselves slowly down Bernardo’s cheeks.
Diego’s heart was touched beyond words. All he could do was reach through the bars and grip Bernardo’s arm tightly. His voice full of emotion, he said, "No one could ask for a truer friend than you are to me, Bernardo." Bernardo smiled through his tears. Diego looked up at the night sky visible from their cells. "All right then. We are together in this thing. Our only hope is to pray for a miracle. When we can no longer do anything to help ourselves, there is always someone to whom we can turn in the hour of need. If not for succor, then for comfort." He squeezed Bernardo’s arm fondly. "Yes, we will pray."
In the darkness of their cells, the two men crossed themselves and began to pray together.
