Part 9
by Nikki
his opponent's sword flying.
Mondego did not take his eyes off the sword in Zorro's hand.
"I will not kill you, if that is what you are wondering," stated Zorro
quietly, although he kept his blade pointed at his opponent's throat.
The blue-eyed, left-handed swordsman was seething. Had he been so
much out of practice? This Zorro was, admittedly, good, but he had
seen better.
"What is your business here in Los Angeles?" continued Zorro.
"It is none of your business!" spat Mondego.
"I beg to differ. Anything that might threaten the well-being of this
pueblo is my business."
Mondego narrowed his eyes. "Maybe you are right, Senor Zorro. But
you forget something; you do not have any proof that something I do
might "threaten" your precious pueblo. Treating me like a criminal
would get you nowhere."
Zorro faltered, unconsciously relaxed the pressure on his sword.
Seeing his chance, Mondego knocked the sword out of Zorro's hand,
caught it, and leapt to his feet.
"Out of my way, Zorro. I have no real quarrel with you, but I will
kill you if you push me to it."
"You seem to dislike the de la Vegas," said Zorro softly.
Something in his opponent's voice almost made Mondego think that it
was personal. He quickly brushed the feeling aside, however.
"'Dislike' does not even begin to describe my feeling toward *them*.
The de la Vegas must pay for all the wrongs they did to me!" With
that, he lunged at Zorro.
**********************************
Basilio was in his office, glancing at the clock. It was almost ten
o'clock and he better sent his men to the hill beyond the de la Vega
hacienda. He knew it was a mistake to solicit helps from Mondego, but
he was already in so deep that he did not have any choice.
His though drifted to Viceroy de Silva. If the nephew was any
indication, he did not want to think of what the viceroy could do to
him.
A single knock could be heard at the door. Basilio sighed, praying
that it was not Mondego.
"Come in," he called.
"Your Excellency," Sergeant Garcia began, "the viceroy has arrived."
"I will be down presently, Sergeant. Is there anything else you
need?"
The sergeant thought about it. "No, Your Excellency."
"You may go, Sergeant."
Sergeant Garcia saluted and left. Looking after the rotund lancer,
Basilio could not help feeling jealous. The sergeant did not have to
worry about a thing, while he had to keep de Silva "occupied".
***********************************
Carlos was getting restless. Apparently, Mondego was busily fighting
off someone in the dark costume, presumably Zorro. Perhaps he should
go and see what he can help.
Then he remembered seeing the wrath in Mondego's steely blue eyes, so
he simply sat down and waited again. He still liked his body in one
piece, thank you very much.
***********************************
It was a much longer fight this time, but, in the end, Zorro wounded
up being held at the sword point.
"Unlike you, Zorro, I have no compunction of killing *you*," declared
Mondego, pushing the sword closer to Zorro's heart. "It is a pity
that this sword would not taste the younger de la Vega's blood first,
but it will, eventually."
Zorro wanted to appeal to the blue-eyed man's heart. It was plain
that Mondego was misguided. Zorro did realize that he and his father
were probably partially to be blamed, but he did not like the hatred
to go on without his attempting to do something to correct the
situation.
"Tell me what the de la Vegas did to you."
"What is the use?" returned Mondego hotly. "You are their lap dog,
ready to spring to their defense!"
Zorro must use all of his self-control not to retort back. "I want to
understand the cause of your hatred, Senor. I will not say whether
you are right or wrong."
Mondego smiled slightly. "Clever, Zorro. You have prolonged your
funeral a little. To answer your question, I am scorned because my
mother did not marry into the de la Vega family. My blood boils every
time I think that all of these," he gestured at the area around the de
la Vega hacienda, "could have been mine!" He laughed, and, for a
moment, Zorro thought that the blue-eyed man was the devil himself.
"But they did not know--" started Zorro, only to be interrupted by the
decreasing of the pressure of the blade that pointed at his heart.
"Your time is up, Zorro! Die!" Mondego dove in for a final thrust.
Zorro closed his eyes, feeling rather calm and peaceful despite
himself. Was this how near dead people felt?
He heard a smack, then a sound of someone hitting the ground. He
opened his eyes. Mondego was knocked out cold.
"You would not believe how happy I am to see you," said Zorro to his
rescuer.
***************End Part 9*******************
