by William Armstrong, July 2001
From a diary recently found among the belongings of one of Diego de la Vega's servants.
To my children and grandchildren:
I leave you this diary about a man very brave. You must promise not to tell anyone. You must swear to God an oath upon my grave. I am merely one of the servants.My job is to keep the hacienda orderly and clean.The de la Vega's are most generous.They treat us fairly, if you know what I mean.
Well, one morning I awoke very early. There was a noise that I really should not have heard. I got out of bed to investigate. Everyone else was asleep; no one else stirred. I managed to light up a candle,made my way through the house, and then up the stairs. I stopped outside of Diego's room. I could hear him talking to someone within.
ThereI found out he was talking to Bernardo, but his manservant is deaf and dumb! Or so they say. And that is when I overheard him say something that I'll never tell anyone to my dying day. I am one of the few who know the truth. It is too dangerous for the news to reach an enemy. Even Diego will never know I know. The secret of Zorro will always be safe with me.
