La Doña Negra

CHAPTER 14: ENDGAME - PART 3 CONFRONTATION WITH SENOR D’ORO

Bernardo could hardly remain in the saddle on La Doña Negra’s horse, Night Shadow. His eyelids drooped from severe fatigue. He despaired of ever reaching his master in time for Zorro to rescue Don Alejandro and Señora Rodriguez from that animal, Capitan Guiterrez. Night Shadow sensed his rider’s distress and slowed his speed enough to prevent Bernardo from falling and kept a steady and even pace that was still fast enough to find Zorro as quickly as possible. As Night Shadow reached the entrance to the de la Vega cattle pens, his sharp hearing detected the sounds of men fighting. He began to gallop and Bernardo was compelled to grasp his mane even tighter.

The skirmish between the evenly matched forces of Señor D’oro and Zorro’s and La Doña Negra’s vaqueros was relatively short but brutal. Although they had won a decisive victory, it was not accomplished without casualties. Don Diego’s head vaquero, Benito, was shot in the back and died soon thereafter with Zorro at his side. The Fox firmly promised Benito that Don Diego would help support Benito‘s family.

Several of the Dark Lady’s men were trampled to death in the beginning of the fight. The de la Vega cattle, already nervous under a threatening sky, started to stampede - with the aid of Señor D‘oro‘s men. Rico Calzone and two of his friend were killed when the frightened cattle caused their horses to bolt, throwing their riders directly in the path of the herd. La Doña Negra’s head vaquero, Valentino Herrera, and some of Don Diego’s men somehow managed to turn the herd back towards their pens.

Zorro was having difficulty concentrating on saving the cattle and doing what he could to keep his and the Dark Lady’s men alive. Although he believed that he had left his betrothed well guarded with fifteen of her capable men, soon after his arrival at the cattle pens he began to feel something had gone terribly wrong. Zorro knew that earlier Don Alfredo had assured both Carmen and Don Alejandro that he would arrive on schedule. But an almost tangible sense of unease troubled him and yet that he could not explain it. Faced with the possible loss of his family and his dear fiancée, whose love for him was indispensable, Zorro prayed to all the saints to give him the strength to be victorious against Señor D’oro’s evil schemes.

The Fox had dispatched the last of Guiterrez’s mostly inept swordsmen when he spotted a familiar horse coming into the pens area. His heart almost leapt from his chest when he recognized the rider. It was Bernardo. He was lying halfway out of Night Shadow’s saddle. ‘Carmen’s horse... but where is she... dear God please let her be safe!‘ The Fox remounted Tornado and headed his steed in Night Shadow’s direction. When he reached Doña Negra’s mount, he found Bernardo nearly unconscious. His manservant’s clothes were blood stained and tattered. Bernardo sported several large bruises on his left cheek. Zorro quickly glanced over his shoulder and saw that no one else had yet noticed Doña Negra’s horse or its rider. ”Bernardo, please wake up!” Zorro urgently whispered as best he could so that the vaqueros could not hear him call Don Diego’s manservant by name. But he was forced to stop talking as Valentino and another one of Senora Rodriguez’s vaqueros arrived to see who had ridden into the cattle pen area.

Herrera rode up beside Night Shadow. “Señor Zorro, it is Don Diego’s manservant, Bernardo the deaf-mute! But where is Don Alejandro? And La Doña Negra? This is her horse!”

Zorro testily pushed him aside. “Let me try to communicate with him, I know a little of his sign language. Señores please move back! Por favor, allow him some space to breathe!“ The Fox gently lowered Bernardo to the ground where he splashed some cold water on the mute’s white-hot face. Seconds later he was heartened to see his dear friend open his eyes.

When he finally was able to focus on Zorro’s face, Bernardo began rapidly signing that Don Alejandro and La Dona Negra had been captured by the Commandante.

The Fox continued to whisper as he patted Bernardo on his back. “Eh? You have something in your boot you wish me to read?” He allowed Bernardo to frantically wave his arms because he knew that his friend needed to release all of his pent up frustration. Zorro removed Bernardo’s right boot and retrieved Don Alejandro’s report and a note that his father had written to Diego.

His manservant signed repeatedly that he did not have much time, as Capitan Guiterrez and his partner in crime were eager to leave California tonight! Bernardo then used some secret hand signals only he and El Zorro knew. ‘You must leave now! Your father and Doña Negra are in moral danger! Capitan Guiterrez wants to...’ The Fox asked for a lantern so that he could read Don Alejandro’s note and the attached report from Santa Barbara. Seeking solitude, he walked into one of the vaqueros’ sheds that was used as an office and sleeping quarters.

“SANTA MARIA!” he shouted, not caring whether or not anyone heard him. ‘Not even father would have guessed in his wildest dreams that his cousin Alario Manuel de la Cruz Estevez was behind all this trouble in Los Angeles! All this death, misery and tragedy because father refused to loan Don Alario money before I was born!‘ Zorro was livid! ‘You are a dead man, cousin Alario, I promise you!‘ He muttered sotto voce.

He most certainly knew how cruel and sadistic Guiterrez was. Zorro once helped one of the “fallen women” in the pueblo several months ago. She had been severely horsewhipped by the Commandante. The señorita told Zorro that Capitan Guiterrez beat her because he had grown bored with her. Senorita Rosaria informed the Fox of some other of the Commandante’s victims. The Masked Avenger had sent more than a few of these unfortunate women to live with Father Felipe. The good monk was more than willing to aid these women, some of whom were disfigured by Guiterrez’s sadistic habits.

“Muchachos! Please gather around!” Zorro called out to all of the vaqueros. “I know that all of you are very tired after this hard won battle. Yet, we have not been completely victorious--”

Valentino Herrera's baritone barreled through the men’s speculations. “Señor Zorro, we know that something has happened to La Doña Negra, sí? Señor Zorro, we demand that you tell us!” Herrera shouted.

The Fox’s voice cracked slightly. “She has been captured --together with Señor de la Vega - and is being held by the Commandante and his evil master from Santa Barbara at Juarez Point! We must ride quickly if we are to save them! Are you with me muchachos?”

All of de la Vegas’ and the Rodriguez’s en shouted for Zorro to lead them to where the captives were being held. “Andelante, muchachos! Follow me!” Zorro used his long supple legs to leap upon Tornado. Then the Fox and his allies sped into the moonless night. Bernardo had recovered enough to ride at Zorro’s side. He was determined to witness the Commandante’s and Señor D’oro’s downfall. Bernardo glanced at his master and great friend. His heart ached for Zorro, whom Bernardo knew blamed himself for underestimating Alario and the Commandante.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Don Alfredo and his small party of just over a dozen men had arrived scarcely five minutes after Capitan Guiterrez fled with Don Alejandro and La Doña Negra to Juarez Point. Upon entering the hacienda, they found only dead and dying men. There was no sign of either Don Alejandro or Dona Negra. “Manuel, search the hacienda!” Don Alfredo ordered. “I must know if Don Alejandro is unharmed! And search thoroughly!”

He dismounted and checked over the casualties. Manuel discovered one of the Commandante’s men who was still alive and seemed eager to talk. “Where is Señor de la Vega, pero! Answer me immediamente!“ Don Alfredo deliberately shook the thug none too gently because he had no tolerance for men who fought for the highest bidder. “Where are Don Alejandro and Señora Rodriguez? TELL ME!”

“Gone.... All ... Juarez Point.” the man gasped. “... Juarez... Point...” Don Alfredo then walked over to the hacienda’s patio gate. “Two of you remain behind to help clean up! And you, vaquero, ride swiftly back to Los Angeles and alert Sergeant Garcia to call out the garrison. Then fetch Dr. Jivarro pronto! Tell the doctor to send his assistants to the de la Vega rancho and for the good doctor to meet me at Juarez Point!”

On their way to assist Don Alejandro in protecting his hacienda from the Commandante’s men, Don Alfredo’s scouts, Pepe Colombes and Roberto Melendez were ambushed by a group of Guiterrez’s mercenaries. Roberto was seriously wounded but he was able to ride to warn Don Alfredo about the mercenaries. Halting to confront these hired killers delayed Don Alfredo’s arrival at his friend Don Alejandro’s hacienda by almost forty-five minutes. His one consolation was the fact that he was not able to locate either Alejandro’s or Señora Rodriguez‘s body.

‘To be captured by that porco Guiterrez! Ayi yi yi!’ He said aloud. “Bless me if that Señora Rodriguez wasn’t right! I feel ashamed that I ever doubted her honor!“ Then he climbed onto his palomino and rode as hard as he could toward Juarez Point to rescue Don Alejandro and Señora Rodriguez.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Capitan Guiterrez was in a foul mood. He had looked forward to bending Carmen Rodriguez to his will and, having failed to do so, started drinking some brandy he’d stolen from the de la Vega hacienda. The Commandante wished he were back in the comforting arms of his latest mistress. As ugly as she was, any woman was preferable to none at all. He stalked sullenly back to his tent. Carmen Rodriguez still lay on the floor, breathing a little easier. Encouraged, he tried to shake her back to consciousness.

She only moaned and went limp in his grasp. “Bah, I may as well take my chances with Señor Zorro himself or with Don Alfredo!

Guiterrez anxiously paced the length of his tent. He wondered whether or not on Alario would permit him to leave the camp and head for the Norte Americanos’ country. “That is what I shall do! Quietly slip out from the rear of the camp, grab my horse and disappear. I can make it to Santa Barbara and take any ship that is sailing to Europe or the Unites States! ’Blast it! I never should have mentioned to Alario Estevez about my plans to grow sugar cane in Cuba.’ He walked outside to see if any of Estevez’s men were lurking around He saw no one.

All of Señor D’oro’s men appeared to be watching their padrone and Alejandro de la Vega fight to the death. Bueno! Time to leave! Quickly throwing on his uniform jacket, he darted from the hole he cut in the rear of his tent. However, when he turned toward the area where the horses were tethered, he found himself staring into the muzzle of a pistola.

“Ah, leaving us so soon, Commandante! What a rude gesture to come from such a fine gentleman as yourself!“ Lasamas chuckled to his drinking companions. “Don Alario has been so generous with his hospitality for you! And you repay him by sneaking away from his camp. Vaya, hijo di pero! We are taking you to see him! Vaya, pronto, coward!” he taunted Guiterrez.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Zorro halted his men some fifty meters from Señor D'oro’s encampment. “Valentino, send out a few men to determine how many scouts Señor D’oro has posted. We shall proceed on foot as soon as your men have returned from observing the camp’s activities. Surprise is the key to our success!“ He turned to look over shoulder as the noise made by horses’ hooves forced Zorro to climb over the nearest hill where he witnessed the arrival of Don Alfredo and his men. “Julio, por favor, run to Don Alfredo and tell him we shall meet him here, pronto!“

“Sí, with pleasure Señor Zorro!”

ZZZZZZZZZ

Don Alejandro hadn’t fought a duel for over 20 years, but tonight he felt slightly rejuvenated by his fencing with Don Alario. Although Don Alejandro was a very good swordsman, he was a decade older than his cousin was. And he had not slept in almost 24 hours. More than once Alario’s feints caught Don Alejandro off guard, and de la Vega paid for his mistakes with a deep cut on his left arm, which began to bleed. ‘Ayi yi yi! I shall hold out as long as I can for Zorro to arrive!’

“HA!“ Noticing his wound, Alario could not resist taunting his hated relative. “You are too damn old,” he sneered at Alejandro, “and I shall enjoy whittling you down to size!’ He thrust his rapier again and again at Alejandro’s now blood covered left arm, trying and almost succeeding in lethally penetrating Alejandro’s defense.

“This old man still knows how to fence!“ Don Alejandro shouted happily as he lunged through one of Alario’s missed feints and thrust his weapon into his cousin’s left shoulder. Fortunately for Alario, Don Alejandro was becoming weak from the loss of blood, so what would have been a far more serious injury merely resulted in a mere flesh wound. Diego’s father started to slightly favor his left side but he immediately forced himself to straighten his shoulders. Don Alejandro vowed he would fight this porco even if he here forced to wield his rapier while on his knees!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Alario Estevez ordered his men to push away Señor de la Vega when he came too close for comfort. Señor D’oro wanted to savor every moment of this duel with Don Alejandro, whom he believed ruined his comfortable life in Spain. Don Alario then called for a quick recess of the swordplay. Alejandro was very happy to briefly stop to take several long, deep breaths. As Señor D’oro drank some water, Don Alejandro espied the water canteen and licked his parched lips. When Don Alario resumed the duel, he saw his chief bodyguard, Lasamas, dragging a very reluctant Capitan Guiterrez towards him.

“Your pardon, Señor. We found this piece.... this hijo di porco, trying to leave us!” Lasamas poked at Guiterrez with his sabre.

“Es verdad, Capitan?” Estevez was furious. He told his men to chain the Commandante to one of the wharf posts. He then refocused his attention on his interrupted duel with Don Alejandro. “I’ve waited for nearly 25 years for this moment, my dear cousin by marriage, to spit you like a porco on my blade! Let us end this once and for all!”

Estevez hurled himself at Don Alejandro, not caring how he would kill Alejandro, only that he must destroy him! He smashed into Señor de la Vega, knocking him unconscious. Alario de la Cruz Estevez stood over his hated enemy, lying before him, defeated and defenseless at last. Don Alario eagerly raised his rapier to plunge his weapon into Alejandro’s chest, as he lay helpless on the wet sand.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

La Doña Negra finally awakened from her painful slumber. ‘Where. am I?’ She tried to stand up, but she was overcome by a wave of nausea and a burning sensation in her back. When she reached around to touch the painful area, she felt and then saw the blood on her hands. ‘Dios! Capitan Guiterrez! Must stop him from leaving camp...Zorro is sure to come for me soon!‘

Carmen winced both from frustration and exhaustion. She started to crawl to the tent opening and got as far as a couple of feet outside the canvas canopy. It was then that she saw Señor Alario Estevez screaming for Don Alejandro to surrender. ‘Santa Maria!’ she said as Estevez poised to stab Don Alejandro, who was still groggy after Alario had landed on top of him.

Lower and lower Don Alario’s rapier descended until the tip of his sword pierced Alejandro’s neck just below the right ear. However, Don Alejandro stirred only slightly. Don Alario wanted to kill de la Vega face to face, so he slapped his weapon against his cousin’s face. He told Don Alejandro, who was slowly regaining consciousness, that he originally planned to make his California cousin suffer as much pain as Don Alario could inflict upon him.

Señor D’oro released a deep sigh. “Tis a pity that our touching family reunion must conclude so soon! I would have loved to prolong your suffering, my cousin by marriage!” One of his bodyguards told him that is ship was ready to sail. Don Alario glanced at a group of sailors who were mooring two rowboats to the wharf as he spoke. One of them waved a white flag that was the prearranged code that meant it was time to depart. Don Alario sighed mockingly. “Ah, my dear cousin, neither the tide nor my ship will wait for me indefinitely!“

He paused long enough to check his pocket watch. ’Hmmm, it almost 10:00 p.m. I really must leave! The vessel’s captain wants to be clear of the Juarez Pointe Harbor before 11:00 p.m.’ “Don Alejandro, I regret that I shall have to end this little skirmish now!” Señor D’oro said as he pressed his rapier harder into the neck of the still groggy Don Alejandro.

Carmen forced herself to stand when she saw that Diego’s father was unable to shake off the blow inflicted to his head. She knew that Don Alejandro’s cousin would murder him as he lay helpless on the sandy beach. Carmen pulled herself up using a pile of travel valises, packed by Guiterrez and Don Alario for their escape from Alta California. Desperately she looked for looking for something to use as a weapon. There! It was only a water canteen, but it was made of heavy cattle hide. A wave of vertigo assaulted her senses. ‘If only I could stop shaking!’ She willed herself to remain standing. Carmen threw the canteen as hard as she could toward Don Alario. The effort cost her to lose her balance and Carmen hit the sand hard.

Thunk! The canteen hit Don Alario’s back. He was so surprised that he almost landed atop a semi-conscious Don Alejandro. Señor D’oro’s guards saw her missile strike their padrone and three of them ran toward her with their swords drawn. Lasamas’ face was purple from rage. He was closest to her and he covered the distance between them in seconds.

“When I have finished with you, bruha, I’ll pass you around later so everyone can enjoy your company!” But neither Lasamas nor the guards attacked her because Zorro came charging into the camp on foot leading a large group of masked vaqueros.

“Surrender, Señor D'oro, or should I say, Don Alario Estevez!” Zorro yelled.

Doña Carmen’s head vaquero, Valentino Herrera, quickly disposed of the thugs surrounding his mistress. But Lasamas easily brushed away a couple of Don Alfredo’s men. He started to strike at Herrera who was helping Carmen up. “Look out, Valentino!” she shouted.

Unfortunately for Señor Lasamas, Herrera had excellent reflexes. Valentino pushed Señora Rodriguez out of harm’s way as he caught Lasamas in the middle of his sabre swing. Herrera stepped under Lasamas’ blow and thrust his blade into the mercenary’s chest. Don Alario’s hired killer fell onto the beach sand. He choked to death from his own blood that filled up his lungs.

Carmen felt herself again growing faint. She reached out for Herrera's strong arms. Her head vaquero threw his arms around her waist, and he gasped when he found that her blouse was soaked in blood.

“Doña Negra, your back is hurt, you must let us take care of this wound--”

“Not now.... Please V-valentino .” she said in a weak voice. “... Capitan ... hurry .. is over by the horses, he’s getting away!” Carmen grasped Herrera's arm and tried to shout to Zorro, but she did not have the strength. She barely was able to say his name, but she forced herself to yell it out anyway. “El Zorro!”

Her corazon heard Dona Carmen’s voice and ran over to her at once. Zorro gathered her in his powerful arms as she sagged back to the sand. “Carmen, praise Dios! You are injured?“ The Fox whispered. How he wished they were alone... When he saw that she was near collapse he told Herrera that he would bring her to the large tent that he saw when they entered Don Alario’ camp. “Uhhhhh".... she fainted again just as Zorro started to lift her into his arms.

Beneath his mask, Zorro’s face flushed crimson. He did not how he found the strength not to shout out his love for Carmen when he saw why his arms were covered with blood. ‘O querida mia, how much you have suffered at the hands of that sadistic Capitan Guiterrez! Careful, Diego! Herrera and the others are not stupid! They will figure out that Zorro and Diego are one and the same if you cannot control yourself!’ The Fox was so upset he could not speak when he saw the lash marks on her back. He asked Herrera to help him carry her into the Commandante’s tent. Bernardo had followed behind Zorro and the Masked Avenger signed to Bernardo to get some water quickly!

Zorro then asked Herrera to please find Don Alfredo to ask him if he could send for any medical help. Carmen opened her eyes a little bit. The Fox felt tears of relief flow down his face. He remembered to continue to whisper. “Querida mia, hold on, por favor! I am here with you.”

“Diego.....” He gently laid her back down on the blanketed floor. “Please...Diego--”

He managed to cover her mouth just as he heard Don Alfredo’s voice outside the tent. “Hush, my darling,“ he whispered. Then he said in a louder tone, “Señora Rodriguez, this is El Zorro. I am here now, you are safe.”

Don Alfredo walked into the tent followed by Bernardo who carried some water. When Don Alfredo saw Señora Rodriguez dressed in La Doña Negra’s clothes, he gasped. “By all the Santos! I would never have thought she was the female vigilante!”

The Masked Avenger took the water from Bernardo and proceeded to get Carmen to swallow some of it. Using sign language, he instructed Bernardo to daub Carmen's fevered forehead with a wet cloth.

Zorro smiled sadly. “Sí, you are not the only one, Don Alfredo, who has had to revise his opinion of Señora Rodriguez! Excuse me, but I must make sure that medical help has been requested and that Capitan Guiterrez does not elude us!”

Don Alfredo told the Fox that he had already sent for Dr. Jivarro to join him here at the wharf.

“Gracias, Don Alfredo. May I ask a favor of you, Señor?”

“Anything Señor Zorro!”

“Can you remain here with Señora Rodriguez and Bernardo until the doctor arrives?”

“Sí, El Zorro.’

Valentino Herrera walked over to the Fox. “Señor Zorro, do not worry! We have both Capitan and Señor Estevez under heavy guard.”

The Fox smiled wanly. “Bueno.” He turned around one more time to gaze at Doña Carmen. He hated to leave her in her present condition but he felt he had to deal with Capitan Guiterrez! When he exited the tent, he found that Valentino Herrera and his men had brought El Raton to him.

“Release me, you swine!” the soon to be former Commandante of the Presidio La Reina de Los Angeles screamed at Herrera’s vaqueros. They were taking turns poking the Capitan with their weapons.

“Hijos de peros!” Gabriel Guiterrez yelled. “If I had a rapier or my sabre, I would make short work of all of you cabroncitos!”

“For someone who enjoys torturing women, señor, you speak rather bravely!” Zorro said from behind a crowd of vaqueros. “Tell me, Capitan Guiterrez, how would like to cross swords with me?”


Chapter Fifteen


Previous Chapter


Table of Contents