Ch 1-2:
southern California
Sgt. Pedro Gonzales - liked to argue/tended to brawl with the others. Doesn't like Zorro. Calls him "Mr. Fox". (feels like Zenigata talking about Lupin III)
Zorro - wears a mask, flashes a pretty blade, carves a letter Z on the cheek of his foes. Called "the Curse of Capistrano". Gonzales calls him a thief. Reward for his capture. "He is like a fleeting sunbeam, I grant him that - and with about as much courage."
Zorro claims he is not really a thief, he is punishing those who mistreat the men of the missions. Left a placard (poster - sort of like a calling card) saying that he is a "Friend of the oppressed."
Bows and his eyes twinkle through his mask when he shows up.
Gonzales says to let Zorro come, and the door opens, the storm blowing in. But it isn't Zorro, it's Don Diego Vega. Vega is young and polite, asks if he startled the others. Sgt says it was that he came in on the heels of the storm that startled them, implies there is nothing startling about Vega himself. Vega tells him they have an agreement, Sgt's boasts amuse him so he provides him with wine but if he ridicules him again, the agreement will end. (Vega is a noble). Sgt kisses his butt to make up.
Vega was rich, would inherit 3 times what he already had, but disliked action. He was polite to women, listened to mens stories in the sun, and smiled now and then. Opposite of the Sgt in all ways. He was healthy nad good looking and didn't look twice at any woman.
Sgt tells them they were talking about Zorro, and Vega yawns, asking what about him. Sgt mentions how Zorro never appears in his vicinity, and wants him to so he can claim the reward. Vega doesn't want to talk about him, because all he ever hears of is violence, and would rather talk about music or poetry. Sgt keeps talking about Zorro, and Vega tells him that he's heard he has only robbed officials that have stolen from the missions and the poor, and has never killed anyone. He tells Sgt to "let him have his little day in the public eye."Sgt says he'd rather have the reward, and Vega tells him to earn it by capturing him. He tells him to tell him about it afterward, but to spare him now. They drink a glass of wine together, then Vega grabs his things and asks the landlord for a jar of honey that his people were unwilling to brave the storm for. He leaves, Sgt keeps boasting (and drinking), and then the door blows open again.
Ch 3 -
This time it's Zorro who enters. Sgt asks if he's come to surrender and he says he's come on business. He says that Sgt brutally beat a native he disliked a few days ago, and because he is the friend of the oppressed, he has come to punish him. Sgt draws his sword to kill him, and Zorro pulls out a pistol, telling him to stop. He tells the others present to retreat to the corner. He asks Sgt to turn his back while he draws his blade.
Ch 4 -
When Sgt turns around, Zorro has drawn his sword but is still holding the pistol too, and chuckling. Sgt keeps attacking while Z stands his ground. He calms down and attacks again, and Z still pushes him away with no effort. Z says they've had enough time for playing, and begins to attack, forcing Sgt backwards. Someone battered at the door, which made Sgt panic. Z says he will have to visit another time since they are interrupted. Sgt yells loudly to whoever is outside the door that they have Zorro in there. Z is angry and attacks again, besting Sgt and slapping him across the face for hurting a native. The person outside tried to smash the door in. Z made his exit through the window. Sgt and his comrades ran outside to look for Z, but he was long gone. Sgt claims that someone must have told Z that he had recently broken the thumb of his sword hand, and that's why he chose now to visit. Sgt tells the tavern's newcomers what happened, adding that Z threatened to kill him. The others who had been present gasped, but held their tongues. When Sgt finishes telling the men what happened and his plans to go after Z, Vega comes in and asks what's going on. He asks Sgt where Z's dead body is, which makes Sgt choke. Vega says he promised to tell him the story once he took down Z. He accuses him of being modest and sparing him because he doesn't like violence. He asks if he peeked at the face "beneath the mask" and suggests that it could be someone they all know. Sgt tells him Z had a pistol, and Vega asks why he didn't take it away from him. Sgt then insists he has to go report the incident, and swears Z will be meat for his blade before long. Vega smiles as Sgt rushes out.
Ch 5-6-7 -
Vega visits Don Carlos. Tells him of the Zorro incident. Carlos has had his money taken away by the govt and knows Vega has the power to make them stop coming after him. Vega tells him that his father talked to him about how he is approaching age 25 and must accept his duties and responsibilities, including having offspring to inherit the family wealth when he is gone. He tells Carlos that he thinks getting married will be a bore, but that he has decided to get a wife and would like it to be Carlos' daughter Lolita. Carlos and his wife give him permission to pursue her. Vega says he has no intention to court her, and they tell him he is making a mistake. When he tells Lolita to just say the word and their fathers can arrange the wedding, and that he has no plans to woo her, she is insulted. She tells him that if he really sends someone else to play guitar beneath her window on his behalf, that she will throw boiling water on him. Carlos tries to placate him as he needs the alliance to regain power. Lolita's parents tell her all the reasons she should marry Vega. She agrees with the things they say, and tells them that's why it angers her. She thinks his lack of energy and laziness is ridiculous. She falls asleep and wakes to a touch on her arm. It was Zorro. He says he is weary and came because it was siesta hour. He woke her because he wanted to tell her that "Your beauty would hinge a man's tongue in its middle so that both ends might be free to sing your praises". She tells him of Vega, and Z says he is an imbecile for not wooing her. She tells him he should go so he is not captured. He sits and takes her hand, kissing her palm. She tries to send him away. He says he will go if she lets him kiss her hand again, so she gives in. She wishes Vega had half as much courage.
The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley. Web Source.
