“I don’t know. I only saw him going into the tavern tonight; I have not contacted him yet. We need to plan exactly how we are going to handle this.”
“*All we need to do is show the pardon to the alcalde, right?*”
“You must remember that this is not a true pardon. Only a release from sentence. Though Anna should be protected by the double jeopardy laws, the alcalde could see the release as proof of her involvement in espionage, which, in a way, I suppose it is.”
“There is more to it than even that.” Anna said, taking the pins from her hair, “The alcalde is searching for those who have been helping me. Unless he is convinced of full pardon, you two, and possibly the rest of the household, are in danger of being convicted of harboring a criminal,” she said, braiding her hair behind her head and down her back. Felipe was having trouble concentrating.
“Did the alcalde say anything else?”
“No, and I’m afraid I didn’t endear myself to him, either.” Anna tied the braid with a ribbon and used the ivory pins to tuck in the wisps of hair.
Diego smiled, “No, I expect you didn’t. For now, let’s assume that Michael has the papers. We need to get those papers to the alcalde.”
“But you can’t just walk in there with them, or the alcalde will know that you were helping me.”
“Right. Don Diego can’t, but Zorro can. He’s already an outlaw and he’s already made contact with Michael.”
“*So Michael wouldn’t suspect Diego of being Zorro.*”
“Why should the alcalde listen to Zorro? Why couldn’t he just destroy the papers?” Anna asked.
“Our alcalde operates much better when the people are fully aware of what is occurring.”
“So all this has to happen in front of everyone.”
“As publicly as possible, yes. The alcalde needs to pardon you in front of the people.”
“That means I need to be present for all of this, which means that I will probably be arrested first.”
“*Wait. That’s dangerous, you could be shot as easily as arrested.*”
“Felipe is right. We must orchestrate the arrest carefully, so that no one is hurt.”
The three made their plans, carefully calculating every move that must be made. When the strategy had been devised and completed, they turned to their beds, yawning, bleary-eyed, and tense in anticipation of what would occur on the following day.
On the way to their rooms, Felipe stopped Diego.
“*Teach me to speak,*” he asked.
Diego looked down at him. “You’re frustrated, aren’t you? You can’t talk to Anna.”
Felipe nodded.
Diego sighed. “Galileo once said, ‘You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help him find it within himself.’ Felipe, I believe that you will speak when the time is right.”
Felipe rose at dawn following a restless night. He had thought of every possible place where the plan could go awry. It would be so easy for Anna to end up in jail, extradited, shot, executed… His thoughts still raced.
He went to awaken Anna, taking a candle with him. The flame cast shadows on the stone walls as he descended the steps into the cave. Turning the corner, he shuffled his way over to the bed. He caught his breath.
Anna slept peacefully on the cot. Her hair spilled over the pillow, catching even the faint light from the candle. Her eyes were gently closed and her lips slightly parted with slow, even breathing. The girl’s shift had slid down to reveal her bare shoulder.
The young man’s mouth went dry, and he reached out his hand to caress her.
Felipe stopped and shook his head, suddenly realizing what he was about to do. He placed the candle on a nearby table and rubbed his eyes, trying to gain control over himself. He had never seen anything so beautiful and so vulnerable. When he felt calm enough, he sat on the edge of the cot, leaned over and kissed her cheek to awaken her.
Anna awoke with a start and was frightened by the dark form leaning over her. She lashed out, elbowing the man in the throat, and scrambled to her feet on the other side of the cot.
Felipe fell to the ground, stunned, and coughing. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Anna understood what she had done.
“Oh! Felipe!” she cried, rushing to his side. “I’m so sorry! You scared me!” the girl helped him onto the cot where he sat sputtering and rubbing his throat. Anna took his face in her hands as she knelt beside him on the cot.
“Are you alright? I’m so sorry!” She lifted his head up and ran her hands over his throat to make sure he was alright.
Felipe blinked his eyes, as he made sure that his head was still intact with his body. Finding all was whole, he nodded his head.
“*Remind me never to do that again.*” he signed, with a crooked smile.
“What were you doing?”
“*I was waking you up.*”
“Oh,” she said sheepishly, pulling her hands back, “I’m awake now.”
He grinned. “*I see that.*”
Felipe stood slowly, still swallowing, and began to light the lamps. Anna sat on the cot, her arms wrapped around her legs and her chin resting on her knees. She watched him work, a worried expression on her face.
“Your neck is turning purple,” she observed, biting her lip.
Felipe stopped and nodded his head, “*I imagine it is.*” He walked back to the table and blew out the candle.
Anna stood, modestly clasping the blanket in front of her. “Please forgive me!”
Felipe looked at Anna, who was almost crying in remorse. “*I already have.” He smiled and chuckled a little, “*Besides, it was my own fault for catching you off guard.*” He stepped closer to her, “*Anna, I could never be angry at you.*” Felipe caressed her cheek, and as she warmed to his touch, he bent and kissed her gently. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, as he deepened his kiss. Anna leaned into his arms and returned his passion. With a deep breath, she opened her eyes and stepped back.
“I… I think I should get ready to leave.”
Felipe nodded, not moving his eyes from hers. His gaze gave Anna butterflies. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. With a nod in farewell, he climbed the stairs to the hacienda.
Diego met Felipe at the fireplace and together they waited for Anna.
“Felipe! What happened! Your neck is an awful color,” Diego exclaimed.
Felipe looked at him sheepishly, “*I startled her.*”
Diego laughed out loud, “Amigo, never sneak up on a woman. Especially one trained in hand-to-hand combat.” He clapped Felipe on the back.
The hidden door opened and Anna peeked out.
“It’s clear.” Diego said, taking her hand to help her out. “Are you ready?”
Anna took a deep breath, “Yes. I think I am.”
“Alright. Let’s go.”
Michael was dressed and putting on his boots. Zorro crept through the window and stood by the door.
“Buenos dias, Senor.”
Michael lost his balance in surprise.
“Good morning. I’m glad to see you; I was a little worried that you wouldn’t come.”
“Do you have the papers?”
“Yes, I do,” he turned to his saddlebag that lay in the corner and took out a roll of parchment and an envelope.
Zorro took the parchment and unrolled it. He slowly nodded his head as he read it.
“Wonderful!” he exclaimed, rolling the paper up and sliding the ribbon around it again.
“Senor Zorro, I don’t understand. Is what that paper said true? Is Anna a spy?”
“Yes, she was, but she has served her punishment and this letter will prove it.”
“And Matthew, too?”
“Si, Matthew, too.”
Michael shook his head in disbelief.
“What is that?” Zorro asked, pointing to the envelope.
“I’m not sure. When I requested the papers from the governor’s office, they said that this paper had been filed with the others by the Commandante of Santa Barbara.”
Zorro opened the envelope and slid out a small, square of parchment. On the paper were hundreds of tiny letters with no apparent pattern.
“All they said was that the Commandante thought it was code from British intelligence and sent it to Monterey to be analyzed. Do you know what it means?”
“J, K, D, M, R…” he read, “No. I have no idea. But I know someone who will.”
