ZORRO AND FELIPE RESCUE THE JDB LIST SERVE
I laid my head on my desk, staring at my Compaq Presario computer, wondering and worrying. With the exception of a few posts and some parts of a story posted by a new list member, the JDB List Serve had been far too quiet for too long.
"Even Robin and Kassie are gone," I thought, sighing. "I can't even get them to post anything in response to my letters. If only Zorro could help me!" I scratched my arm as I pondered my dilemma. Next to me, a fan sat on the floor, its constant buzz creating a background noise that irritated me.
At that moment, the door behind me creaked open. I whirled my cushioned swivel chair around, thinking one of my family members had entered the room. To my shock, a tall man with a pencil-thin mustache framed the doorway! He had on a black costume and a black silk cape.
I froze in my chair. "Z--Zorro??!"
The man removed his black hat and bowed. "At your service, señorita. You and your friends visited my cave some time ago, to plan a story you were writing about us." He gazed at the computer to my right. "What is that, if I may ask?"
"Oh, that's a computer." I pressed my fingers against the off-white keyboard. "I'm so glad you're here!! My fellow list members are all but missing; I'd sure like to know what's happened to them!"
Zorro looked grave. "I think I know, señorita, and I may be able to help." He paused. "Luis Ramon and Ignacio De Soto are holding them captive."
“What??!!” I leaped to my feet. "But why?"
"Because in the stories you write about us, you always make them look bad." Zorro chuckled. "They can't handle that, so one by one, they've arrested your fellow list members."
I froze, as a horrible thought slammed into my head. "Oh no; that means I'll be next!"
"Not while I'm here." Zorro beckoned. "I must take you away now; they're on their way as I speak."
I rushed toward him. No sooner did Zorro and I leave my bedroom than I found myself in a country I'd seen only on television and in pictures. Squat shrubs dotted an otherwise-barren landscape; a row of old-timy buildings stood in the far-off distance. Immediately, I knew I was in Spanish California! That must be the Los Angeles I saw on the show, I thought.
There was no time to lose, I knew. If the Juan Diego Botto List Serve was ever to be active again, we had to act quickly. A cool breeze brushed against my face; it felt good.
Zorro led the way toward the pueblo. Minutes later, behind the tavern, we found Felipe crouched against the adobe wall. I chuckled as I looked at him; even though I'd watched every episode he'd been in, I couldn't believe how much he had grown.
After Zorro introduced us, Felipe gestured so rapidly I found it impossible to interpret his sign language. Zorro understood it easily, though. "The members of her list serve are in the alcalde's jail?" Felipe nodded. "And Ramon and De Soto intend to hang them?" Felipe nodded again. “They returned just before we did?” The boy nodded a third time.
The masked avenger turned to me. "We have no time to lose." I nodded agreement and stood silently as the Fox and his servant boy formed a plan of action.
Zorro turned to me. "You'd better hide, señorita. If the alcalde sees you, you'll be in a cell with your friends."
"Yes," I agreed, and climbed into a huge crate. I took a deep breath and willed myself not to make any sound.
As I crouched, Felipe strolled toward the alcalde's office, where he gave the guard a piece of paper. The guard nodded and went inside; a moment later, both alcaldes stepped outside.
Suddenly, Zorro jumped off the roof and unsheathed his sword. "Zorro!" both men shouted. "Lancers!"
To my relief, not a single lancer appeared in the plaza; evidently, Zorro had done something to keep them away. As I gaped in fascination, the two alcaldes fenced, rage and frustration on their faces. In moments, Zorro disarmed them, then touched a fuming Ramon's chest with the point of his sword.
"I don't have time for your nonsense, Alcalde," he warned them both. "You will release the list members you've imprisoned in your jail. Now!"
"Lancers!" De Soto shouted.
"They are not here. You're wasting your time. Release the prisoners, De Soto, or your fellow alcalde, here, dies!"
Sullenly, De Soto re-entered the office; minutes later, the cuartel gates swung open. Fifty-one men, women, and teenagers wandered out, bewildered.
"You'd better go," Zorro told them. "Now, before the lancers return. You have some stories to finish, I presume?"
Robin nodded. "Yes, we do."
"So do I," Rachel Rosenthal added. Christina Smith, Carolyn Fenton, Jacki Long, Susan O’Brien, Pen, Lisa, and several others nodded agreement.
“I certainly do,” Susan Kite added. “I’m writing a Zorro novel as we speak.”
“And I have several stories I’m working on,” Christina added.
“I wish I had one in the works, but my muse refuses to cooperate.” Carrie Dawson sighed. “Maybe our time in the jail will give me some ideas, I hope.”
I leaped out of my hiding place and joined them. As we rushed out of the pueblo, I tried to think of all the questions I wanted to ask them. Before I could, though, I found myself back in my room, in front of my computer.
"Wonderful!" I smiled broadly and sat down at my desk. "Now there'll be some stories and letters posted!"
I leaned back in my swivel chair and logged back onto the Internet. As I visited the Web site where our letters' archives were posted, I waited for the first new message to be posted there...
THE END
©2001, by Kathy Green