Eneida could do nothing but hold on for dear life as Zorro maneuvered his horse through the countryside. She knew his horse was almost spent and was amazed at how they were able to elude the soldiers when they chased after them. None of her father’s best horses would have been able to do that after such a long journey. It would have been unthinkable.She had been thrown against Zorro’s arms and had nearly fallen off as Tornado had leaped from the boulder back into the stream. Only Zorro’s arm around her waist had kept her from falling off. She felt the strength in that arm and knew that it would protect her. Her admiration for Zorro’s resolve grew as they traveled on. He was going to let nothing stop him from getting her to the trial.
Zorro circled around the pueblo and approached from the opposite direction. He was sure that most of the soldiers would be looking for him in the countryside to the north. Suddenly, Tornado stumbled and almost threw both he and Eneida before he regaining his footing. Zorro pulled him to a walk, but did not let him stop. If he did, Zorro was not sure that the stallion would be able to continue. Sliding down from the saddle, Zorro went to Tornado’s head as they continued walking.
Putting his arm under Tornado’s lathered neck and patting the stallion on the cheek, he spoke. “Tornado? Tornado! You must listen to me.” Zorro was not sure if the stallion was listening or not. But he continued, “You must take the señorita to the hiding place in the pueblo. Remember, Tornado? The hiding place behind the church? Go there, Tornado and wait for me!”
Handing the reins to Eneida, Zorro looked up at her as he walked beside Tornado. “Tornado will take you to a place of safety. I must create a diversion to draw off the soldiers in the pueblo. Whatever you do, do not leave the hiding place until I come for you. Will you promise?” He looked at her earnestly.
“I promise, Señor Zorro. I will wait.”
Zorro smiled somberly at her and then said, “Remember, Tornado, the hiding place.” He slapped Tornado on the shoulder and watched briefly as the young woman and his friend went around the corner of a building and disappeared. He mentally tried block out the sight of his once proud stallion, walking with his head down, his sides heaving and covered with lather as he carried Eneida to relative safety.
“Vaya con Diós,” he whispered. Then he clenched his jaw as he ran towards the blacksmith’s shop.
The smith had about a dozen horses in his corral. Zorro slipped unseen into the corral and took down the poles along one side. Then he ran the horses out of the corral and down the street towards the plaza. He did not follow them, but made his way to the hiding place, hoping to find Eneida and Tornado there. He could hear the shouts of the people in the plaza as they tried to capture the milling horses. He was sure that the soldiers’ attention would be distracted as they watched.
He entered the abandoned merchant’s shop and found Eneida kneeling beside Tornado who was laying on the floor of the shop. Eneida was crying. “He brought me here and let me lead him in and then he just fell right here,” she said tearfully as she stroked Tornado’s neck.
Zorro choked back his own emotions and said gently, “Señorita Eneida, his sacrifice will mean nothing if we do not get to the trial. Every minute is precious. He will understand.”
Leaning down, he took Eneida by the hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come, we must go. We will come back when the trial is over. I promise.” Eneida rose and followed Zorro.
Slipping through the back alleys, they made their way to the back of the Inn where the trial was being held. As he had hoped, the soldiers were distracted by the horses in the plaza and they were able to enter the back courtyard of the Inn without being seen. Looking around, he saw Bernardo, trying to stay out of sight, watching them from the corner of the stables. He had been waiting anxiously for them to come.
“Can you climb a ladder?” Zorro asked Eneida. At her nod, he ran and got the ladder and placed it on the second story balcony. He held it steady as Eneida began to climb. Motioning to Bernardo to come near, he whispered, “Tornado is in the hiding place behind the church. He is very ill. Go to him.” Bernardo ran.
Zorro climbed the ladder behind Eneida and helped her to enter the room. He told her to wait while he slowly and carefully opened the door into the interior of the Inn.
Capitán Monastario was pleased at the trial’s progress. He had stated his case against the priest eloquently, every point made with care. The priest’s only defense had been the tired old story of the unknown señorita in the red dress whom he could not produce as his witness. Monastario stood with his right elbow resting on the top of the tavern’s bar and his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he addressed the judge.
“And so you see, Judge Alamares, the priest has no defense. I have the cold hard evidence of the money which was found on his person. The money which rightfully belongs to the King.”
His final statement to the judge was cut short, however, when he found the sword of El Zorro at his throat. Zorro had leaped from the balcony onto the chandelier and had swung onto the bar before anyone could react. Zorro’s drawn sword found its way unerringly to the throat of Monastario as he knelt upon one knee upon the bar. There were gasps from the people who had assembled to watch the proceedings.
Addressing the judge over his shoulder, not taking his eyes off of Monastario, Zorro said, “Your Excellency. We have new evidence for the defense of Padre Felipe.” He was rewarded by the fury that filled Monastario’s eyes.
“Capitán, you will order your guards to disarm. Now, Capitán,” said Zorro menacingly. He had no patience with Monastario. He pushed his sword a little harder against Monastario’s throat.
Monastario glared at Zorro, but said through clenched teeth, “Disarm, everyone! Do it now!”
Zorro watched with approval. Gesturing to the soldiers, he motioned them towards the door. “Now, gentlemen, if you will please leave the courtroom?” He continued to hold his sword at Monastario’s throat. The soldiers shrugged and filed out of the courtroom.
Again addressing Judge Alamares, Zorro said, “Please excuse me for my unorthodox method of introducing evidence, but it was necessary.” He got down off of the bar and disarmed Monastario as well.
Bowing to Judge Almares, he said, “Your Excellency, I wish to present a witness on behalf of the defendant, Padre Felipe.” Looking up to the second story balcony he spoke loudly, “You may come down, Señorita.”
Eneida had taken a moment to gather her courage after Zorro had left her alone in the room. But she had witnessed most of what had taken place as Zorro immobilized the Commandanté while she peered out of the door. She had found the Commandanté very imposing, until Zorro had disarmed both him and his soldiers.
At Zorro’s invitation, she held her head high and stepped out into view and walked down the stairs. There were gasps from the assembled crowd as they realized who she must be from the red dress she was wearing. Her eyes met Zorro’s and he smiled encouragement to her. She looked and found Padre Felipe, who’s own smile was as warm as the sun.
She continued walking until she was facing Judge Alamares. She curtsied before him and said, “Your Excellency.”
“May I present, Señorita Eneida Zamora, daughter of Don Carlos Zamora,” said Zorro gesturing with his hand. “She is the señorita of the red dress that Padre Felipe has spoken about. Please, Señorita. Tell the court what happened the day you met Padre Felipe.”
Swallowing past the lump in her throat, Eneida began. “Your Excellency, I had been praying for some time to find someone to take my gift of five hundred pesos to be used for the benefit of the poor and orphaned children.
"I went to the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima to pray just as Padre Felipe was passing by. I knew that God had sent him to accept my gift and gave it to him freely. I knew that he would use the money for the purpose intended. I wanted the gift to be anonymous and so did not give him my name. He is innocent of the charges, Your Excellency.”
Monastario protested. “You are just saying that because this devil in black has paid you to say that!” he growled as he glared at Zorro and then back at Eneida.
Zorro spoke up. “Your Excellency, I see that you have the money pouch there on your desk. Would you examine the embroidery upon it?” Alamarez did so.
“Now,” said Zorro, “if you will observe the brooch the señorita is wearing. Both items carry the same initial worked in the same style. The letter “Z” which stands for Zamora. This is the señorita who gave the money to Padre Felipe for the poor. I will repeat what Señorita Zamora has said. Padre Felipe is innocent of the charges against him. Now that you have heard all of the evidence, what is your verdict, Your Excellency?”
Judge Alamares pursed his lips and looked at Monastario. Then he looked at the people assembled in the “courtroom”. Then he looked at Señorita Zamora of the red dress and Padre Felipe. He had made a special trip to Los Angeles as a favor to Monastario and now he could see that he had been used. All he wanted to do now was return to his own home in time for observing Christmas with his own family.
In a loud and stern voice, he said, “I find the defendant not guilty.” He was unable to say anything else, however, because the room erupted in cheers. He looked to Monastario and Zorro. Zorro saluted the judge with his sword before he sheathed it and ran up the stairs to disappear into one of the rooms.
Padre Felipe took Eneida by the hands and thanked her for coming to his defense. Many people then gathered in joy around the padre, talking and laughing among themselves. Their padre and their Christmas was saved. Padre Felipe would be able to hold the midnight services of Noche Buena after all.
The laughing, happy people spilled out into the plaza to spread the news. Monastario stormed out of the Inn and returned to his cuartel to sulk.
Alamares ordered his carriage to be made ready at once. As he was gathering his things, he picked up the purse of money. He walked around the desk and handed the purse to Eneida.
“Here, Señorita Zamora. You may present your gift to the Padre once more. Felíz Navidad.” With that, he too left the room.
“My child, you are an answer to prayer,” said Padre Felipe. “It is a miracle that you are here.”
“Yes it is, Padre. But it may have cost someone a great price to bring me here.”
Padre Felipe glanced up the stairway. “You speak of El Zorro?” At Eneida’s nod, he said, “Come, tell me about it. We will go to the church. You look like you could use some rest.” He led her out of the Inn.
After Zorro left the Inn, he went straight to the abandoned merchant’s shop. The look on Bernardo’s face told him everything. He knelt down by Tornado’s head and took it in his lap. Tornado’s eyes were closed and he was wheezing as he struggled to breath. Bernardo had managed to remove the bridle and saddle and had cleaned the stallion as well as he could. He had covered Tornado with a blanket that he had found.
“Bernardo, go to the blacksmith and buy a bottle of liniment, then go to the tavern and buy a bottle of brandy. And bring another blanket. We need to keep him warm. Come back here as soon as you can, but be careful.” Bernardo nodded and left quickly.
Zorro stroked Tornado’s neck as he said softly, “We did it, boy. Padre Felipe is free. Eneida and I could not have made it without you, boy. You brought us through my friend.” He continued to stroke the stallion’s neck. His whole world had condensed down to just he and Tornado and so he was startled when Bernardo came back with the items he had been sent to fetch.
They uncovered Tornado and rubbed liniment on his neck, chest and ribs, then covered him again, adding the extra blanket. They managed to pour some of the brandy down his throat and get him to swallow a little. Zorro seated himself near Tornado’s head and began stroking him again, willing him to get well.
Bernardo knew that his young master had had nothing to eat since he had left on the previous evening and knew from the red in the eyes behind the mask that his friend was very tired. He also knew that there was no way that he could be persuaded to move from where he was.
Unnoticed, Bernardo slipped out once again and bought some food and a bottle of wine. As he was bringing it back, he saw the señorita of the red dress looking both ways before she ducked into the hiding place. He circled around to the back of the store, keeping out of sight. He entered, keeping hidden, and was able to overhear the conversation.
“Señorita, you cannot stay here,” Zorro said earnestly. “It is too dangerous for you. Despite our victory today, I am still a wanted outlaw. You must go.”
“I want to help, Señor Zorro,” said Eneida. “You have done so much for Padre Felipe and so many others, I cannot leave without trying to help you. You are all alone, just like I have been.”
Looking at Tornado, she said, “How is he? He is such a valiant one.”
“I do not know, Señorita. He is very sick. He did what no other horse could have done and I am afraid it has broken his heart.” Zorro’s voice broke on the last word and he bowed his head as he continued to stroke Tornado.
Eneida came around and sat next to Zorro. “And now yours is breaking too,” she said softly. She placed her hand on Zorro’s shoulder as she too stroked Tornado.
They sat in silence for a while, listening to Tornado’s wheezing breath. Finally, Zorro looked up at Eneida. “Please, you must go and rest. Go to the Inn and tell them to give you a room and some food. Tell them Diego de la Vega will pay for it. He owes me a favor or two. Padre Felipe will soon be looking for you also. Please. I cannot move Tornado from this place and I do not want you to be in danger because of me. Promise me you will go to the Inn.”
Eneida did not want to leave Zorro so alone with his poor, sick horse, but she saw that he would be growing more upset with her if she did not leave. How sad it was that he must drive even those who would be his friends away from himself because of the danger he was to them.
She sighed. “All right, Señor Zorro. I will go. But if I can help you, please let me do so. I have spent the last year praying that I could find a way to make a difference in people’s lives and you have shown me that I can. It is a great gift you have given me. My father will just have to understand that I am a different person when I return home. I want to live in the world outside the hacienda, to meet new people and offer help to those in need. No longer will I be bound to his bedside. Buenas tardes, Señor Zorro.”
She left quietly, being careful to look both ways before stepping out of the store.
Bernardo took that moment to step into the room. Zorro looked at him. “You heard?” Bernardo nodded. Looking thoughtfully at the door, Zorro said, “She is a very special young woman, Bernardo.”
Bernardo agreed. He presented the food and wine to Zorro who nodded his thanks and ate mechanically. He and Bernardo rubbed more liniment on Tornado and gave him more brandy. They could not see or hear any change. The wheezing and struggle for breath continued.
As the day wore on, Zorro found it harder and harder to keep his eyes open. Finally, Bernardo brought some hay and another blanket and made a makeshift bed for Zorro to lie down upon. It took a little persuasion, but Bernardo finally got Zorro to lie down and sleep. He had to promise to wake his young master if there was any change in Tornado’s condition. Bernardo took Zorro’s place and began to stroke Tornado’s neck.
