Conclusion
The judges briefly discussed Ramirez's complaint. Then one of them spoke. "Diego's feet never touched the ground beyond the wall, or the wall itself. He was asked to use his whip, if necessary, to get past the bull. As he has succeeded in this, he has passed the test."
Ramirez flopped down in his chair again, muttering angrily to himself.
I pretended not to notice Ramirez's mood and applauded with all but one who cheered the judges' decision.
Only Diego and Eloy had passed the test.
The next contest in this event was supposed to be a riding contest. The students were to gallop past a straw figure in a white uniform. The one who inflicted the most damage with his whip in a single pass would win. This contest, however, assumed there would still be a number of students left. Ramirez, realizing this, stood up. A cruel smile fractured his otherwise stony face.
"As there are only two men left," he proposed, "let's finish this contest with a duel."
The judges conferred over the excited whispers of students around them. Then, again, one judge spoke for them all. "It has been agreed that a duel will decide this contest. However, I must remind the combatants that it is not a duel to the death. The two remaining participants will fight until one of them concedes or steps out of bounds." The judge turned to the participants. "Are you agreed?"
Diego and Eloy nodded their heads.
While the judges worked to set aside a dueling place, I hurried over to Diego.
Protect your eyes, I motioned.
Diego nodded his head. "I've seen him practice with a melon, and I feel certain Alita would never allow him near your orchard!"
I smiled at his joke, but indicated that he should be careful.
"He is dangerous," Diego agreed. "I won't underestimate him."
One of the judges led Diego to the dueling site. I followed. A circle had been drawn in the earth. The spokesman for the judges explained, "Whoever steps out of this circle first loses the match and the competition. The only weapon permitted in the circle is a whip." He looked to Eloy and Diego. "Do you understand and accept the rules?"
Both students agreed and stepped into the ring. They bowed to each other, then began circling the perimeter, gently swaying their whips, and occasionally making feints.
It came very quickly. Eloy lashed out, his whip unfurling straight for Diego's eyes. Diego threw himself onto the ground just as Eloy's whip cracked above him. Diego used his momentum to snap his whip around Eloy's ankle. Eloy raised his whip again, but it was too late. Diego pulled as hard as he could and Eloy landed on his back. Diego dropped his whip and jumped on Eloy. Eloy continued to try to use his whip, but it was useless with Diego so close. Eloy gripped the ground with his left hand, barely preventing Diego from pushing him out of the ring. Suddenly, Eloy flung a handful dust in Diego's face.
Diego's hands went to his eyes. Eloy seized his advantage and struck Diego across the face with the whip's handle. As Diego fell to one side, Eloy rolled on top of him. Using both hands on the whip's handle, Eloy pressed it against Diego's throat. Diego brought his hands up and tried pushing the handle away, but it was no use. Eloy was leaning forward and had all of his weight bearing down on Diego.
Diego made one last desperate move. He raised his legs while at the same time his hands tried to bring the whip's handle down to his chest. These two motions sent Eloy flying over Diego's head and out of the circle. Diego had won.
Diego helped Eloy to his feet. Eloy was not a bad kid. He fought to hard to win, but he always played by the rules. He congratulated Diego and shook his hand.
The students went wild. Diego's classmates lifted him into the air and carried him off to the judges' table. I glimpsed Ramirez as he stormed away and gladly put him out of my mind.
After Diego was presented with his trophy, he raised his goblet in the air. His fellow students had seen to it that it overflowed with wine! "I promised a toast to my classmates," Diego began, "and so this is. But I also wish to drink to my teacher and my friend, without whom I certainly would not be celebrating with you right now. Thank you, Bernardo."
Hands clasped me on the back and cheers erupted for Diego and me. I was honored that he had included me, even though the victory was clearly his.
Diego had no way of knowing -- and I, who should have thought of it, was so proud and happy for him, that it didn't occur to me until it was too late. You see, Alita, just as students compete against one another for recognition and prestige, so do their teachers. Oh, we don't take whips or swords to each other! It's not that kind of competition. Rather, it is through our students' victories that we prove our abilities as teachers. When a star pupil wins, it is also his teacher who is honored. This was particularly true that day, as Diego was my only student. The fact that he defeated Eloy (and all of Ramirez's students) was not just a blow to Ramirez's ego, it was an insult to abilities as a teacher. It was an affront to his honor, and I will regret to my dying day that I failed to see it.
I arrived home late that night, still reeling from so much wine and celebration. There was a note on the door, asking you to meet with Maria at eight the next morning. The note said it was important. You were asleep, so I left the message on the table and quietly climbed into bed.
When morning came, I tried to wake you, but you said you were too sleepy and that you were feeling cold. I kissed your forehead and was relieved to find that you didn't have a fever. I wrapped more blankets around you and set off to meet Maria myself. If I couldn't be of use, then perhaps she could see you at another time.
Maria was surprised to see me.
She denied ever having written the note. I figured it was a practical joke and headed back to the house.
I smelled the smoke before I saw it.
I ran up the hill. A few flames escaped from the thatched roof, but mostly there was smoke. It was as if a dark cloud had been born inside the house and was struggling to get out. I couldn't see past the swirling smoke in our windows.
----------
Bernardo set down his quill, unable to continue writing the letter.
A flood of memories filled his eyes, and he wiped most of them away with the back of his sleeve. Even after the passing of years, he could hear Alita screaming his name from inside their burning home.
Bernardo remembered running through the front door, into the smoke and flames. He frantically tried calling Alita's name, but no sound would come. Making as much noise as he could, so she would know that he was there, Bernardo staggered toward the bedroom. Part of the roof collapsed in front of him, blocking the door. Bernardo was in agony, as his lungs sought to cough out the smoke he had breathed. His fingers blistered as he pulled the burning thatch away, his vision blurred through smoke and tears. Bernardo could feel himself growing weaker, even as he was aware that he could no longer hear Alita's cries.
Bernardo awoke to find himself on the grass outside his house. Or what was left of it. Diego was beside him.
Alita! Bernardo gestured. Where is she?
Diego shook his head. Tears drip from his cheeks.
At that moment, Bernardo's world came crashing down on him, the destruction as absolute and devastating as the blackened ruins of his home.
Bernardo longed to put away the letter he had begun. The memory of what had happened was still too fresh. Tears mingled with the ink.
Bernardo looked away and waited for the memory to wash over him. After some time had passed, he found himself back in his room, back in the present, back in the dark stillness he had come to know.
His fingers trembled as he picked up the quill and dipped it into the bottle. He had promised Alita that he would tell the whole story, and Bernardo was a man of his word.
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The days that followed your death pass swiftly in my memory now, though I know they hadn't done so at the time. It wasn't hard to put the puzzle together, but each piece placed was a blow. Ramirez was missing. I was too weak and too hurt to go after him, but Diego left school and tracked him down. Ramirez was armed and not afraid. He confessed that he had left the note that night. He had wanted you out of the house, Alita, so he could kill me alone. He glimpsed you in bed, but what with all those covers, he assumed it was I who was lying there. He set fire to the house and rode away.
Diego and Ramirez fought.
Ramirez found out that Diego was not afraid to kill, when it became necessary.
Diego returned to the university. Word of Ramirez's death brought no comfort to me. It couldn't bring you back. Besides, I was still reeling from Maria's piece of the puzzle, when she told me that you weren't sick. You were carrying our child.
I don't know what I would have done had it not been for Diego. He was and will always be a true friend. Our roles reversed and he became my teacher. He taught me how to live again.
The university offered me my old job back, but I declined. I didn't want to be a part of that profession again. In time, the students forgot (or were kind enough not to mention) that I had once been a teacher. I cared for and looked after Diego and that was enough.
In time, Diego's father sent for him. Diego hated to leave before completing his studies, but his father needed him. Diego asked me to return to California with him.
You must understand, Alita, Diego was like the son we never had, so how could I refuse? I sold the orchard and booked passage on the ship. Before we left, I walked to your grave to say farewell. I silently promised you that I'd carry you with me, in my heart, and that I would send you a letter on your birthday each year, telling you what had happened.
The voyage was long. Diego and the ship's captain spent much of the time fencing on the deck. Diego was eager to show his father what he had made of himself. I, too, was anxious. Not a day went by that I didn't polish his medals and trophies! I often imagined Diego's father squinting proudly at the gleaming awards!
Alas, he never got to see them. While still at sea, Diego learned that Los Angeles was under the rule of a military dictator. Before we arrived in the port, Diego had come up with a plan. He would assume the role of a harmless scholar by day and an avenging force by night. Diego asked me to throw his awards into the sea, adding that they were no longer a part of his life. Reluctantly, I did as he asked.
Diego calls himself Zorro, the Fox. Zorro has also come to mean hope to those who are oppressed and in need. I have a role to play, as well, Alita. I am the fool -- and deaf, as well as mute. We have accomplished much in our disguises, though I know how difficult it is for Diego to continue deceiving his father. In truth, it's also hard on me. It's a terrible thing to have to do, allowing a father to think the worst of his son, knowing that it isn't true. There are times when I wish I could reach down to the bottom of the sea and thrust those trophies under Alejandro's nose! I know how happy he would be, and that he would keep them as highly polished as I once had!
It has been hard, Alita, living without you, but I have tried in all I do to make you proud of me, and worthy of your love. Maybe one day, when the time for masks is over, I will plant another orchard and try to reclaim the peace and joy I found with you.
My Love Forever,
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Bernardo signed the letter.
Nothing remained but for him to send it.
Bernardo rose from his chair, a little stiff at having sat for so long. Dawn was just breaking pink and gold outside his bedroom window. The rooster would be up soon.
Bernardo walked to the fireplace and dropped the letter inside, page by page, and watched them burn. Bernardo would indeed be a fool if he ever left, for anyone to find, word that Diego de la Vega is Zorro. Besides, Bernardo liked to think that the fire would claim his words and carry them up to heaven for Alita. Perhaps, he considered, as flames spread over the last page, Alita would read them to their child.
THE END
