La Doña Negra

CHAPTER 15:CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

“You would attack an unarmed man, El Zorro?” ’If I can make him so angry that he cannot think clearly, then I shall make short work of him in our duel,’ Capitan Gabriel Juan Sobre Guiterrez sneered, thinking of the best way to rattle the masked man in front of him. “Perhaps you hide behind the mask because you are a COWARD!” Guiterrez decided to go a step further in his personal attack against the Fox. “Did I mention,“ the Capitan’s voice dripped with disdain, “when I took ’La Doña Negra,' I found her charms to be....shall we say, delicious!” The Commandante had meant everyone in the camp to hear his flippant remark. To his utter delight, the slur had its desired effect.

Zorro nearly went mad with rage. Don Alejandro had recovered his wits somewhat and he was standing behind the Fox when the Capitan voiced his lie. The Masked Avenger launched himself at Guiterrez, but Señor de la Vega, and some of Valentino Herrera’s men restrained him. Diego’s father blocked his way. “Señor Zorro, “ the silver haired don cautioned him, “do not listen to this El Muy Grande Raton! Can you not see that he is goading you into fighting his type of battle? I beg you, El Zorro, do not succumb to his trickery!“

The Dark Angel struggled to maintain his composure. ‘Steady, Diego! Your father is correct! Guiterrez‘s purpose is to ruin your concentration before the duel begins!‘ He took several deep breaths while removing his right glove. ‘Well, two can play that game as well as one!’ “Commandante, I certainly would expect such treatment from the likes of you, an attacker and abuser of women!”

Zorro stepped up to him and struck both sides of sides of his face with one of his black gloves. “Perhaps you did not hear me Capitan Guiterrez! I said that you are a scoundrel, since you prefer flogging helpless women! Canaille!” The Commandante’s body went rigid and it appeared as if he was going to explode. But El Zorro refused to end his verbal harassment of Guiterrez. “You claim to be of the hidalgo class? Ha! Everyone in Los Angeles knows what a lying braggart you are!”

The vaqueros who had surrounded the Commandante howled with laughter. “Viva El Zorro! Muerte a El Raton! Hanging is too good for him! El Zorro, fight him in a duel!” Their hero raised his hands to quiet the crowd.

The Capitan’s face was purple from the insult. “A ‘rat,’ am I?” He tried to break away from Valentino Herrera’s men. He laughed maniacally. “Give me a weapon and I shall have all of you, one by one, begging for mercy at the business end of my rapier.“ Zorro ordered the vaquero to release Guiterrez. “Here El Raton!“ He threw a rapier at the Commandante’s feet. The Masked Avenger told him to pick up the sword.

As the Capitan did so eagerly, he yelled at Zorro, “I shall gut you like a fish! En garde!”

The Commandante’s adversary merely shrugged and then said, “Prepare to die!”

Without warning, Guiterrez performed a flêche maneuver - he made a swift lunge toward Zorro. He tried to fool the Dark Angel so he could make one fatal blow. But Zorro easily parried Guiterrez‘s bold opening gambit. “Commandante, I salute you!” His masked opponent said in a light tone of voice. However, his eyes betrayed his true feelings. He had never wanted to kill a man so much in his entire life.

Zorro’s honey-hazel eyes were now almost dark brown because of anger and shame. He should have never left his beloved “Doña Negra” behind to protect the de la Vegas‘ hacienda! The Fox knew the painful humiliation Carmen endured in the Capitan’s tent. His entire being seemed to be aflame with hatred.

“HIYA!” Zorro returned the flêche with his trademark crossovers. By mixing quick thrusts and his misleading crossovers with practiced swiftness, Zorro deftly knocked the Commandante’s weapon from his grasp. Guiterrez’s mouth fell open and all he could do was stare at the Fox. The Dark Angel shouted, “I told you, muchachos, the Capitan is a liar!”

“Come, come, El Raton! Pick up your rapier! Although you are a dog and as such are without honor, I shall give you another chance to kill me!”

Guiterrez shook his head. “That is your fatal flaw, El Zorro. You are too soft-hearted! Best that you prepare yourself because you will soon be kneeling before me, cringing mightily!”

As the two sworn enemies battled furiously to the death, Zorro forced himself to watch his footing. He needed to avoid the waterline where the dry sand became like paste, inhibiting most movement. The Dark Angel returned to his favorite style of dueling -sabre fencing. He used his rapier like a magic wand, waving it back and forth, cutting and thrusting repeatedly. His blade nearly became invisible as he expertly moved the razor sharp weapon over and beneath the Commandante’s defenses. But his blows grew stronger and stronger each time he lashed out at the Capitan. The Fox glanced at Guiterrez’s face. ‘He is sweating. Good!’ he thought wryly, ‘Good!’

The Commandante retreated slightly and taunted Zorro, still hoping to make him mad enough to abandon any type of reasonable strategy. “Dios, El Zorro, you are most creative, but unfortunately, you are out-classed, señor!” Like the Fox, the Capitan had a few tricks of his own. He surprised Zorro by using the Masked Avenger’s own offense. The Commandante’s blade moved like a sewing needle, poking his saber very quickly in and out of Zorro’s parries. Finally, Capitan Guiterrez penetrated his adversary’s defense and sliced the Fox across his midriff.

“HA!” The Commandante gloated when he saw the blood. “So, you are mortal, eh, Señor Zorro?” ‘I am going to push and push him until his hatred of me blinds the Fox’s brain. Then I shall kill him!‘ Guiterrez snickered to himself. The Capitan continued his sniping at the Masked Avenger. “What, the great El Zorro retreats? Now are you willing to admit you fear my dueling skills? Keep retreating, cabron! ‘Tis proof that you lack honor, señor!”

By now the duel had attracted even the attention of the defeated and dejected Don Alario. Señor Alejandro de la Vega had Herrera’s men bind his cousin-by -marriage. Alario scoffed at his cousin-by-marriage. “You shall see, Don Alejandro! Justice favors me! The Capitan and I shall be victorious!“ Don Alejandro sighed. For the first time in his life he pitied Don Alario’s madness.

Zorro was just as exhausted as the Commandante and he failed to notice that the Capitan had maneuvered him into ankle deep water. Guiterrez lashed out with his foot. Zorro slipped and tumbled into the ocean. The Fox managed to avoid disaster by rolling on his side and letting his shoulders absorb the shock of falling. ’Dios! Another mistake like that one and I will be dead!‘

The Fox had had enough of Guiterrez. He started his final attack with flicks - whip-like, blindingly fast cutovers. Zorro’s rapier repeatedly nicked the Commandante’s face, neck and chest. Guiterrez had long ago tossed away his heavy jacket. His once pristine white shirt looked like a crazy quilt of mud, blood, and sweat. The shirt’s front hung in shreds from his neck. What energy reserves the Capitan might have had were now depleted because he had never expected Zorro to fight this long!

The Dark Angel‘s antagonist began to stagger backwards. Slowly and methodically, the Capitan was driven deeper into the treacherous wet sand and finally, the ocean. Suddenly, Guiterrez lunged at his enemy but his right foot became mired in the wet sand. He tried another lunge and failed. Zorro adroitly slid his rapier into Guiterrez’s left shoulder. The Commandante shrieked in pain and dropped his weapon as he fell to his knees.

“GET UP AT ONCE!“ the Fox angrily yelled.

Commandante Guiterrez staggered to his feet and regained his equilibrium. Sweat ran in rivers down his face and back and now he found he was short of breath. The Fox picked up Guiterrez’s weapon and threw it to him a second time.

El Raton hurled insults at Zorro as he got to his feet. He glared at Carmen when he spotted her holding on Herrera’s arm for support. “Señor Zorro, I possessed that hija di puta Dona Carmen once before and I will live to possess her again!“

“I warn you, Capitan, a gentleman should never use such language in the presence of a lady. However, perhaps I can excuse you since you are certainly no gentleman!”

But Guiterrez had already lost this duel. He had spent the past three months indulging liberally in wine, women and song, and this new, prolonged physical exertion was more than even his best dueling abilities could handle. Capitan Gabriel Guiterrez had sworn an oath that he would never surrender to the Fox. He foolishly extended another lunge too far toward his opponent. The Masked Avenger easily stepped inside his feint and forced his rapier directly through the Commandante’s heart.

Seconds later, Zorro stood triumphantly over Guiterrez’s barely twitching form, savoring the Capitan’s every gasp for air. Unlike the poor Indians whom he cruelly abused and murdered, death quickly claimed the Commandante.

Zorro wiped his blood-covered blade on his banda. He would have lots of time to properly clean it later. His gaze swept the crowd for one face and when he found it, he grinned broadly and bowed to his corazon, La Doña Negra. However, he walked across the beach to confront Señor Estevez.

Valentino Herrera pushed Señor D’oro, Señor Estevez to face El Zorro and Don Alejandro. “Zorro, I shall never stop hating you, never! Best that you kill me now, for I will have my revenge on you yet!”

Zorro shook his head disgustedly. “Señor Estevez, by all that is holy, you should be lying there with that raton, for you are even more evil than he is. You conceived this plot against my friends the de la Vegas and the people of Los Angeles. Death would be a relief and not punishment for you! If by some bizarre chance our paths should cross again, I will kill you!”

Don Alejandro limped over to Zorro. “El Zorro, we must feel sorry for the criminally insane. I do not hate him, but I despise the fact that he permitted his hatred to obliterate the good man he once was!”

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Much later, after Dr. Jivarro had tended to Dona Carmen’s wounds and gave her something to sleep, Don Alfredo drank some jerez with Don Alejandro in the late Capitan’s tent on Juarez Point.

“Ah, Alejandro, mi Viejo, this is excellent jerez!”

Don Alfredo’s friend chuckled. “It should go smoothly down the throat, Alfredo! Capitan Guiterrez stole a good supply of the jerez from my cellars!”

Alejandro’s best friend laughed heartily. “Ah, there is something that has bothered me. May I ask you a most personal question?”

Señor de la Vega mumbled “Yes, of course.”

“Well, I was wondering, oh, Alejandro, everyone in Los Angeles has been puzzled by your son’s absence this past fortnight! And, naturally, I was also curious. Correct me if I have overstepped any boundaries, Alejandro, but just where has Diego been?”

Don Alejandro’s smile broadly. “Ah, mi viejo, I shall be happy to tell you, but you must not tell another soul. A fortnight ago, Señora Rodriguez received correspondence from the Governor in Monterey. It seems that the Señora’s papers to emigrate from Spain to California were not in order. I gave Diego permission to plead her case to His Excellency.” Alejandro paused his narrative to drink the remainder of his jerez.

Don Alfredo sighed. “Alejandro, you old toro! There is more, is there not?”

Diego’s father laughed until his face hurt. “Alfredo! You always could catch me doing that! All right, but remember your earlier promise. It is imperative that I do not make an announcement until the proper time. “You see mi Viejo, Diego and Señora Rodriguez are betrothed!”

“Ah, that is splendid news, Alejandro, splendid news! Just think, soon there will be grandchildren in the hacienda for you to spoil!”

“Let us toast the wedding, my friend!” Alejandro said as he poured more jerez into their glasses.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ

CHRISTMAS DAY 1865

Don Diego chuckled heartily. “Now, now, Armando, Estevan did guess the identity of Señor D’oro before you did! Just calm yourself!”

“Did not!” Armando yelled at his younger brother.

Estevan’s face was scarlet. “Did TOO!”

Carmen Alcazar Sanchez Roberto y Rodriguez de la Vega ran into the sala and clapped her hands together for silence. “Ayi yi yi! Mere du Dieu! Such a clamor! What or who started all this noise?“ She glanced at their grandfather, who somehow managed to look perfectly innocent.

“Oh, I see. It is the de la Vega code of honor again! Each man protecting the other! Isn’t anyone going to tell me what all this commotion is about?” Their collective silence spoke volumes.

Doña Carmen folded her arms across her chest. “Well, señores, I am waiting!”

Diego and Carmen’s only child, Don Diego Alejandro de la Cruz de la Vega, rolled his eyes. He had also come running into the sala when he heard loud noises coming from there. “Well, let’s see, mother. I believe that father was relating the tale of how he met you!”

“Sí,” Estevan de la Vega said brightly. “And I figured out who Señor D’oro was before Armando!” Estevan sniffed the air. A tantalizing aroma was emanating from the hacienda’s kitchen. “Oh, Grandmother! Mole sauce! You made some especially for me!“

Armando made a face. “No, grandmother made mole sauce for me, baboso!”

“Silencio!” Don Diego said. “Return to your seats, pronto!”

They both dutifully marched back to the sofa while muttering under their breaths.

Dona Carmen sighed. “Did you not hear your grandfather! What is the matter with you, Estevan? You were always such a quiet young man!”

Diego Alejandro sighed heavily. “Well, young señores! What did you fight about now? I leave you with your grandparents for a little while to find out when your mother is coming home and you misbehave! You must remember you are de la Vegas, my sons!”

Their grandfather laughed. “Estevan has decided that he wants be Zorro!”

“He already believes that he is El Zorro!” Armando and Estevan’s father replied as he shook his head in mock dismay.
Armando pushed Estevan aside. “No! I am the eldest; I will be El Zorro!” Estevan had to defend his honor, of course, so he excitedly joined his elder brother in an impromptu wresting match.

Their father had to separate the two siblings. Armando found himself on the floor with the smaller Estevan sitting on top of him.

But Armando was not ready to concede defeat. “But, father and grandfather, I should be Zorro!”

Diego Alejandro de la Vega sighed. “Madre di Dios! So, does not the current Zorro have any right to name whom his successor will be? From your actions, my young caballeros, it is obvious that you had not considered that fact!” he said in a teasing tone of voice.

The boys’ grandparents were desperately trying to hide their grins.

Diego Alejandro harrumphed. “Do you not want to know when your madre will be home?”

Armando nodded. “Sí, papa! Why is she not here now?“’

Their father looked tired. “I have just come from the telegraph office. The brake shaft on the carreta from Santa Barbara is racked. Doña Kira is staying with grandfather’s friend, Don Raimondo, until it is repaired. Your dear mother will be here late tomorrow afternoon in time for dinner.“

Carmen was glad. “Then we will have the entire family at home!“ She reached up to kiss her husband. “I love you, querida!” she whispered

Don Diego smiled. “Later, my beloved, later!” he whispered. Realizing their child and his sons were staring at them, Don Diego broke the awkward silence. “Well, my son, my wife, it is painfully obvious to me that both Armando and Estevan are quite ready to assume the great responsibility of being Zorro!”

Estevan and Armando looked at each other. “Ah, grandfather, what does ‘responsibility’ mean?” Armando asked innocently.

Diego Alejandro covered his face with his hands. “May the Saints give me strength!”

Doña Carmen and Don Diego giggled despite their best efforts not to do so. “As Don Alejandro used to say--” Doña Carmen began,

“AYI YI YI!” They all yelled together.

NEW YEAR’S DAY 1866

Don Diego de la Vega sat astride the grandson of his beloved mount, Tornado. He had not wanted to name this new two year old colt after his grandsire, but Carmen had convinced him that would be the best way to honor such a noble animal that the original Tornado had been.

“In less than two weeks, cara, you will celebrate your sixty-ninth birthday. How do you feel about that?” Doña Carmen said as she dismounted from her gelding, Night Wind.

Don Diego sighed happily as he stepped down from Tornado. “I feel well... contented, mi corazon.”

“Only ‘contented,’ my beloved?” She mockingly shook her left index finger at him. “El Zorro, I will have you know that I, for one--”

He shrugged his shoulders and then enveloped her in his strong arms. El Zorro kissed her passionately. When he finally raised his head to gaze at her, Carmen's deep violet eyes were still closed. “Well, by all the Santos, kissing her is still the only way to silence her after all these years!”

THE END - LA FIN (OR IS IT?)

HISTORIAL NOTES

1) Binoculars were invented actually two centuries or so before the early 1820’s setting of this story. The French, German and English military staffs quickly recognized the strategic value of this invention and binoculars were first widely utilized in European armies by 1823.

2) The telegraph was in wide use by the 1850’s and proved to be an invaluable asset for both sides in the U.S. Civil War of 1861-1865. The invention of the telegraph eventually doomed the famous “PONY EXPRESS” service and its riders to oblivion. In the latter part of 1866, Lord Kelvin of Great Britain invented the first transatlantic telegraph.

GAIL D. MANFRE 5/19/2001


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