The Curse of Capistrano

In the town of Reina de Los Angeles in south California there was a wild February storm. Inside the tavern in the town square, Sergeant Gonzales sat by the fire holding an empty wine cup. Behind him, four more soldiers sat at a table drinking.

"I'm thirsty!", he called to the landlord.

The man hurried over with more wine. Gonzales was famous along the Camino Real - the king's highway that crossed the country - because he got angry very easily.

"Senor Zorro is on the road again", the landlord began.

"Why do I always hear his name?", cried Gonzales angrily. "He rides along the highway wearing a black mask, and cutting the letter Z on his enemies' faces with his sword. But never when I'm there!"

"They're calling him the Curse of Capistrano now!", the landlord said.

"He's the curse of all our towns, a thief who steals from rich men. The governor will pay a lot to the man who kills Zorro. But where to find him? He never comes near the fort".

"But he hides somewhere", the landlord said. "One day somebody will find the place".

"Not if friends are helping him!", cried Gonzales. "You know, I'd really like him to come in here now".

Suddenly the door opened, and a man in a wet cloak and hat hurried in from the square.

The sergeant's hand went to his sword. But then he saw that it was only his friend Don Diego Vega, a rich young man from one of the best families in town.

All along the Camino Real people spoke of these two friends who were so different. Don Diego never wore a sword, never looked at women lovingly, nor drank much. Gonzales always spoke of fighting and women, and drank heavily.

"Ah, Don Diego. We were just talking of Zorro", Gonzales explained to his friend. "I want to kill him".

"Stop there", said Don Diego in his thin, high voice. "No talk of killing, please! Zorro fights only those who take from the church or the poor, or hurt natives. Why not leave him alone?"

"Because I want the reward money!"

"All right then. Just don't talk about it. More wine for my friends, landlord!" Don Diego turned to go.

"Shall I go with you?", asked the sergeant.

"There's no need. I was at home. I wanted some honey, so I came for some. Perhaps I'll come back later".

The landlord gave Don Diego the honey, and the young man paid and left. Then the landlord brought out more wine and everyone drank to Don Diego.

"With his looks and money", laughed Gonzales. "I could have any woman in the country and win any fight".

And the sergeant danced about the room, sword in hand.

"I'd really like to have Senor Zorro before me now!"

Again the door opened, and a man in a wet cloak and hat entered the tavern and locked the door. When he turned, they saw the black mask on his face.

"Zorro!", cried Gonzales. "What are you doing here?"

"Four days ago you badly hurt a poor native near San Gabriel", answered Zorro in his strong, deep voice. "So I've come to teach you a lesson".

"We'll see about that!", laughed the sergeant, moving nearer, his sword ready in his hand.

Just then, Zorro pulled out a gun from under his cloak. "Over there!", he cried to the other soldiers and the landlord. "My gun will stay in my left hand while my sword is in my right. And if any of you move, you die".

The landlord and the other men hurried into the far corner of the room. Then Zorro turned to Gonzales.

After all the wine, Gonzales moved heavily on his feet. Zorro fought back cleverly, his eyes like cold fire.

Just then somebody knocked on the tavern door.

"Help! Zorro's in here!", shouted Gonzales suddenly.

"You stupid man!", cried Zorro, knocking the sergeant's sword to the floor. Then he hit him across the face with his hand.

"Never hurt a native again", he cried. Then he climbed out through a window at the back of the tavern - and ran off into the stormy night.

After the landlord unlocked the door, two men from the town ran in, asking, "What happened?"

"Zorro was here", explained Sergeant Gonzales. "He wanted to use his gun on me, but I fought against him, sword to sword. And I nearly won, before he turned and ran".

Everybody listened to this in silent surprise.

Then Don Diego arrived. "Gonzales, my friend", he cried, "I hear that Zorro came. Where's his dead body?"

The sergeant's face reddened. "Zorro escaped. I couldn't stop him", he explained.

"No!", cried his friend. "After all your talk of killing him!"

"Don't worry. I'll ask Captain Ramón to send me after him", said Gonzales, and he hurried away to the fort.

Don Diego turned to the fire and smiled secretly.

---

The next morning - which was sunny and bright - Don Diego, wearing his finest clothes, rode out to the Pulido family's country house. Don Carlos Pulido lived here with his wife and their beautiful daughter Lolita, now eighteen. Don Carlos was an old man from a good family. But he was no friend of the money-hungry Governor, and so was now very poor.

Don Carlos was sitting on the veranda when Don Diego rode up. "Why is Diego here?", he thought. "Perhaps our luck is changing". The governor always listened to the Vega family.

"What brings you here?", Don Carlos asked.

"My father says that, at twenty-five, I should marry, so I need a wife. I've seen your daughter in church - and here I am".

"Because you'd like to marry Lolita! Right?"

"Yes, Don Carlos. Do you agree to it?"

"I do", the old man answered. "I'm very happy for Lolita to marry somebody from the Vega family. But you must ask her yourself". He called for his wife to come out to the veranda.

"I hope that you can win my daughter's love", Dona Catalina told Don Diego.

"Oh, I don't have time to play the guitar to her", he replied.

"But, Senor, a young woman likes a man to win her".

"Then I'll send my servant Bernardo with his guitar to play and sing to her tonight".

"Erm... Do you want to see her now?", Don Carlos asked.

"If I must".

So Dona Catalina brought Lolita out, and sat at the other end of the veranda. And Don Carlos went inside, leaving the two young people to talk.