The morning sun shone bright. The sky was clear and brilliant blue. It was quiet around the hacienda. It seemed no one was awake yet. Diego opened his eyes slowly and yawned, then turned over and sleepily began to come to life. It was a comfortable sleep and he’d had such a pleasant dream, although, as dreams usually were, it had been absolutely crazy. Bits and pieces of that journey where he’d met a beautiful, golden-haired senorita, the most ludicrous clothes, doing dances that, for today’s standards, seemed rather provocative, but fun all the same.
Diego smiled sleepily. He’d thought of little else than the senorita when he wasn’t masquerading as Zorro. She’d taken over his thoughts in his spare moments. Never had he experienced enjoyment of that caliber. His escapades as Zorro were daringly fun, but not without certain risks. The amusement he’d had when he’d been away was unlike anything possible. The music was so different.
The more awake he’d become the more he realized the dream had been based on his “journey” a few months previously. However it had happened, he’d slipped through time to 150 years in the future.
Diego lay there thinking about it. At some point in time, California would no longer be a Spanish commonwealth. No more Spanish rule. It seemed unthinkable. He just couldn’t countenance it. And the overcrowdedness, the buildings, foul air from the automobiles, flying; it was too much to believe. How could the simple life he lived here with his father and neighbors and friends turn into something so…? Diego couldn’t find the words to describe it; but it didn’t matter; it wouldn’t be positive. He admitted to himself that he’d enjoyed the experience, but that despite it, he wouldn’t like to be a part of that society. Here in his own time, life wasn’t perfect, but it was simple. He didn’t need all that much to be content. Here he would stay, live out his life, and leave the future to the people of that time to sort out its problems.
But then Diego remembered Jenna. How he wished he could have convinced her to come back with him. Away from all that craziness. Away from…her home. Diego gave himself a mental shake. No, he thought, that wouldn’t have been fair to Jenna; to ask her to leave everything familiar to her. Or to never see her parents again, or her friends. They’d shared so much. Diego knew he loved her, and that the lovely senorita had boldly confessed the same to him. What should one do about that, he thought?
Forcing himself out of bed, Diego dressed and went down to the patio, where his father and the aromas of breakfast awaited him.
“Buenas dias, father,” he greeted quietly. Sitting down, Diego began filling his plate. He was usually talkative, partially to avoid any suspicion that might point to his identity as Zorro. As the overzealous scholar, poet, musician, and overall bore, no one could possibly think him to be the dashing outlaw who turned the hearts and heads of senoritas everywhere. Diego had, on occasion, become jealous of himself. But knowing it was all a front, he shook off the self-resentment.
This morning, however, Diego was more quiet than normal. His father, Alejandro, noticed immediately. The silence was disturbing.
“Is all well with you, my son?” Alejandro asked inquisitively, “you seem so distant and quiet today. For a moment I thought perhaps I had become as deaf as Bernardo.”
Diego looked up in surprise at his father then shrugged his shoulders. Swallowing his food, he began to explain. “I hadn’t noticed I was any less talkative, father. I had a dream, however, that, I suppose, disturbed me. I know it sounds foolish, but I really do not have any other explanation.”
“My son, you have not been the same since that week you were nowhere to be found. Did you have a nightmare about it last night? I would imagine being in your situation would be enough to leave scars. But I cannot understand why you showed no signs of injury when you found your way home.”
Alejandro’s questions and curiosity were impossible for Diego to explain. Nightmare?! Hardly! He was not totally sure it had been real or a very odd dream. But he had physical proof: a small image of the lady of his dreams. He recalled her voice, her laughter, and her vibrancy. He recalled the honey-sweetness when they had kissed. Diego reckoned it was very much a torture that could make him appear miles away in thought.
“Do not worry yourself about injuries I did not have. I was cared for, and found my way home. In fact, it was this outlaw, Zorro, who chanced upon me and let me ride his horse back here.” There. That ought to give his father some food for thought!
“What? Zorro found you? I thought you said a senorita had tended to you? Why did you not tell me this before, Diego?” Alejandro asked in astonishment.
The conversation was beginning to wear on Diego’s nerves. He felt as if there was an attempt to trip him up in his story. Sighing, Diego explained. “Father, I was tended to by a senorita. Making my way home, Senor Zorro, by some chance, found me wandering when I was on the road. I was lost, he gave me directions and loaned me that black stallion of his. He told me the horse would return to him. I am indebted to Zorro. I have learned first hand what the peons feel for him. “
“But Diego,” Alejandro pleaded, “your horse was here, and you were not around. It doesn’t make sense.”
Diego was irritated. “If Bernardo found my horse, and riderless, he would have put him away. Bernardo watches my comings and goings rather consistently, father. If I do not show up he would know to look around for me. It is part of his job to keep track of me. Now please, father, may we talk about something else? I am home, safe, and that’s all that really matters, is it not?”
“Not when it still affects you, my son. It has been months and you clearly are not over this incident,” Alejandro explained.
“Father, please!” Diego retorted, his agitation evident. “I do not want to argue with you. I am fine!”
Alejandro was taken aback by his son’s tone of voice. It was clearly not something Diego wanted to discuss. Better to leave it in the past. Alejandro shrugged and offered a mild apology.
As Bernardo arrived with the coffee, the aroma began to titillate Diego’s senses. Maybe he just needed that morning cup to put him in a better mood. But truly he wasn’t in a bad mood. It was just getting on his nerves dodging the line of questioning.
Just as he was about to take a sip, Diego was seized with an inexplicable urge to go out for a ride. Finishing his coffee, he excused himself to his father, and gestured to Bernardo to saddle his horse. Bernardo looked at him questioningly and made the sign of a ‘Z’ to his master. Diego shook his head and frowned.
“No, not Tornado,” was his message back. It was difficult to communicate with his father around. When Bernardo had finally understood, Diego turned to his father and shook his head. “He thinks I need an escort just to go riding! Sometimes Bernardo is so over protective!” Sensing the explanation satisfied Alejandro, Diego left the confines of the patio and headed for the stable.
Bernardo asked again if he was needed or if Diego needed his Zorro disguise. “No, Bernardo. I think I am quite capable of riding by myself.” He took hold of the saddle and began the hoist up to the seat, when he noticed Bernardo looking slightly hurt. “Forgive me, my friend. I guess I have been acting strangely these past months. I do not mean to. But I do not know how to explain it to you, or anyone. I just need to go for a ride. By myself, no Tornado, no Zorro, no one else. I promise I will not get lost again.” He gave Bernardo a pat on the shoulder, mounted, and rode off.
It may have been the first time he would find himself disregarding Diego’s instructions, but Bernardo waited a few minutes, saddled another horse and followed after his master. It would be the only way to, perhaps, find out the reasons for Diego’s behavior. Bernardo felt a strong need to do so. He stayed behind Diego at a safe distance. They were both heading for the distant hills within minutes. It wasn’t long before Diego slowed and came to a stop. Bernardo watched as Diego just sat there and stared at the hills in the distance.
Diego could not explain why he suddenly felt drawn to the same hills that, now, seemed to be causing so much turmoil in his life. He felt such an urge to find his way through the tunnels and back to Jenna. She was branded in his heart. Diego closed his eyes and recalled just holding her and how wonderful it felt. It was almost as if he were willing her to him, through that tunnel of time that separated them. But tempting as it was, Diego knew he couldn’t go through that again. He chuckled lightly on the thought that he’d needed some diversion, as hard as he’d been working as Zorro. He hadn’t had any real relaxation since the masquerade had begun. But at others’ expense, he reminded himself. His father and Bernardo had been worried, the innocent had suffered under Monastario’s cruelty, and the risk to his identity had been jeopardized. Diego couldn’t risk that again.
Monastario had been no fool. He had accurately deduced that Diego and Zorro were one and the same, even though doubt had still been cast during his attempts to prove it to the Viceroy. That had been a narrow escape. Diego couldn’t justify any more slip-ups concerning his cover. He knew it was only a matter of time before his own father would piece together the puzzle.
Lowering his head, Diego slowly turned his horse around and began to head back for the hacienda. He met Bernardo among the trees, and noticed his worried expression. “All right, my friend. I will explain. But you’d better be ready for a fantastic tale!” They both dismounted and found a grassy place to sit.
And Diego began relating his disappearance months earlier.
Chapter Three
Chapter One
Table of Contents
