When he reached his room, Diego walked over to the foot of his bed and leaned with his forearm against the bedpost, his other fist propped on his hip. He waited until Bernardo put away the guitar and then said, “Somehow I think tonight is going to be difficult if the last few hours are any indication.” Bernardo looked at him with sympathy. “Yes, well come on,” said Diego. “I might as well get ready to go.” Diego led the way to the secret panel and pushed the hidden spring. The cool breeze from the tunnel brushed his face as the panel opened. Bernardo lit the lantern as Diego began to change. They were so familiar with this routine that it had become choreographed. Bernardo hung up each of Diego’s garments while handing him each piece of Zorro’s costume in turn. No motion was wasted. Diego slid his sword in place just as Bernardo handed him the cape and turned to get the hat and mask. Diego slipped into the cape and began to tie it on. As he pulled on the cords, one came off in his hand. Wordlessly he turned slowly to Bernardo, holding it up for him to see.
Seeing the look on Diego’s face, Bernardo said nothing, but took the cord from his young master’s hand and looked at it. The threads were evenly cut except for the few that had held it attached to the cape. Apparently a sword from a recent skirmish had come close to cutting the throat of El Zorro. Fortunately, only the cord had been cut.
Bernardo whistled silently to himself. Diego shrugged out of his cape and Bernardo handed him the shorter one that they kept on hand. He would repair the cord while Zorro was out tonight. For some reason Diego preferred the somewhat longer cape to the one he would be wearing tonight. Bernardo would have the other one ready for the next time it was needed. He also resolved to inspect Zorro’s things more closely after each ride.
“Go on down and get Tornado ready,” Diego said to Bernardo. “I will finish up here.” As Bernardo left, Diego tied on his mask and put on Zorro’s hat and gloves. He decided to go over everything with extra care, from the priming of his pistol to the condition of the belt that held his sword to his side. He pulled the sword and examined it in the lantern light. It seemed all right. He even checked his hat and mask to be sure they were on securely. He was uneasy with the way things were going today, but tried to shrug it off. He was not superstitious and he made up his mind that he would think no more negative thoughts.
He walked briskly through the tunnel down towards the cave where Tornado was kept. He began to feel the exhilaration he always felt as he went forth to give what help he could to those in need and in so doing thwart Capitán Monastario. He felt like he should have no more trouble than usual in getting the peon out of the jail. Just a quick climb over the wall taking out whatever guard was posted, and then he and the peon would be going back over the wall and away. He would be gone before the alarm could be sounded. He hoped.
As he entered the cave, he saw Bernardo holding Tornado who was prancing and snorting in anticipation. A crisp breeze was coming in through the cave’s entrance making the great stallion feel frisky. Zorro swung up on the stallion’s back and gave Bernardo a smile and a salute. “We should be back soon and then you and I can get some well deserved sleep.”
Tornado fairly sprang through the vine covered opening. The great horse was full of himself and was going through the entrance sideways as much as he was going forward as they burst through. This allowed a branch to catch Zorro’s hat and drag it off until it was dangling over his left ear somewhat obscuring his vision. As Zorro tried to control Tornado and grab the hat at the same time, he only succeeded in knocking it completely off of his head where it landed on a low bush.
Tornado immediately stopped and looked back at Zorro who said, “Now look what you have done.” Tornado snorted and tossed his head. There was nothing to do but climb down and retrieve the hat. By the time he was back in the saddle, whatever enthusiasm he had worked up for this little venture had evaporated. Tornado was a bit more calm, as if he sensed his rider’s mood. But soon he could not help himself and was eager to run again. Zorro held him back as he rode a circuitous path out of the canyon. The ground was soft from the rain and Zorro was taking advantage of all the rock paths that he knew about in order not to leave a trail.
Finally, they were far enough away from the canyon that Zorro let Tornado have his head. The black steed gathered his strength and fairly flew across the ground.
Zorro was reminded of that phrase in the Bible that said in speaking of the horse, “He swalloweth the ground in fierceness....” They must have been talking about Tornado, he thought.
Zorro enjoyed feeling the powerful animal beneath him. He leaned down along Tornado’s neck to cut the wind resistance and felt the sting of Tornado’s mane as it streamed in the wind. Stroking his horse’s neck as they flew, he wanted to shout for the sheer enjoyment of it. He didn’t dare, of course. But it did not mean that he did not want to. Tornado’s enthusiasm had refueled his own.
Suddenly, out of the gloom, a large, muddy puddle appeared immediately in front of them. Zorro just managed to steer Tornado around it. They pounded past, just on the edge. He was determined not to get muddy water sprayed on him. He was sure that Tornado was throwing up enough mud even as he ran, and he did not want to add to it. He had already been soaked once today and he detested the idea of getting all muddy. Tornado snorted at the interference and soon picked up the pace again. He was not going to let a little mud spoil his run. If anything, he ran faster.
Table of Contents
Part One
Part Three
