By the by, do we have any Zorro fans or Mexican history buffs here? Or just old movie fans? Your comments help make liveblogging feel less cold and lonely!
Chapter 2: The Flaming 'Z'
After a quick recap of the previous chapter, we see that the soldiers had just finished clearing the blockade when Zorro shouted to warn them. The gold train is just barely able to mount up and get through the pass before the rockslide can catch them. Zorro saves himself by finding a sturdy tree branch to whip his lash around and pull himself to safety!
The toughs, on the wsrong side of the rockslide to pursue the gold train, retreat.
Zorro makes a rendezvous with the Legion to explain the situation. They'll continue shadowing the gold train to ensure no further mischief, while Zorro and Juan head to Mexico City to brief Juarez.
It turns out that Juarez is aware of Zorro's true identity, as he meets with Diego Vega. Diego reports that he has no idea how Don del Oro really is, except that he's a human masquerading as the Yaqui god. Juarez warns that because Zorro and the Fighting Legion have no official or legal standing, he will not be able to intervene if they run afoul of the San Mendolito authorities. They share a brief laugh as Diego performs foppish snuff-taking.
Back in San Mendolito, the conspirators prepare to rig the council meeting to the outcome they prefer. At the meeting, Commandante Manuel baldly lies about what had happened, claiming that Zorro and his men attacked the gold train, only to fall into battle with the also-attacking Yaqui. He claims to have taken advantage of the confusion to get the gold through safely. (No mention is made of the second ambush, and no other soldiers are called upon to give testimony.)
Diego asks if this means Manuel thinks Zorro and the Legion are banditsand Magistrate Pablo responds that honest men do not ride around masked and armed. Martinez sugfgests a reward for the capture of these outlaws, and Governor Felipe agrees. "One hundred pesos for each of his men, and five hundred pesos for Zorro himself." (I'm not sure how strong the peso was against the dollar in 1824, but let's say that it's a substantial sum of money.)
Diego protests, due to how dangerous Zorro is, his bounty should be at least one thousand pesos! (He'd certainly be a good judge of Zorro's dangerousness.) The council agrees to this sum. Manuel promises to mobilize his men at once to hunt the outlaws.
Later, two soldiers on patrol spot a lone rider stashing something in a rock formation. It's a Legionnaire's uniform! Under San Mendolito law, that's all the evidence they need.
The rider is still in sight, having failed to notice the soldiers until tehy start shooting at him. (Bad move on the soldier's part, he was still way outside the range of that model of pistol.)
But the soldiers are no slouches at riding; they've soon caught up with the fugitive, force him from his horse, and the soldier who didn't fire his gun covers the man.
Soon there is a notice posted in front of the Council Hall, and Diego and Ramon read it. The rider's name is Miguel Torres, and he's been tried and convicted of banditry; he'll be shot at daybreak tomorrow. (No, you didn't miss the trial, there was none, and from all evidence, not even an attempt to question the prisoner.) Diego decides to summon the Legion.
Zorro sets a fire in the hills that looks like a big 'Z'. The Legion converges, but since the signal is so visible and obviously related to Zorro, some of the toughs spot it too. Then they see Legionnaires, and shadow them.
The toughs track the Legion to the old mission, but rather than risk getting caught spying, return to report to Don del Oro.
Zorro tells the Legion of the capture and imminent execution of Torres. Rather than risk an assault that would cause unnecessary bloodshed (remember, the soldiers are not Zorro's enemies, really), Zorro has another plan.
Thye following morning, Torres is brought out by the firing squad, commanded by Manuel hismself. We see Zorro and two of the Legion lurking on roofs at the edge of the town square. Torres, looking none the worse for wear, shows no fear and refuses to share any last words.
When Manuel raises his sword, about to give the "fire" command, Zorro whips him off balance. Then the Legionnaires toss beehives into the midst of the soldiers. While the military is distracted, more of the Legion ride in, free Torres, and take him away. Somehow, the Legion is completely unaffected by the angry bees.
Zorro and his rooftop companions leap onto their horses and make their own getaway.
In the lair of Don del Oro, the golden lord announces to the Yaqui that Zorro and the Legion will soon be out of the way—there's a plan to get rid of them tonight. As soon as the doors to the main chamber are closed, Don del Oro commands the toughs to go to the San Nicolas Mission and "do as I have told you."
At the mission, the toughs and some of their Yaqui allies bar the back exit. Inside, they are laying blasting powder in the cellar to set up an explosion. (Presumably, Martinez is using his position as manager of the mine to divert their supply of powder.) One of the toughs is smoking as he does this and his leader chastises him for his foolishness.
The toughs set a candle as a two-hour fuse, then prepare to light a false 'Z' signal.
Cut to a domestic scene. Don Diego helps his aunt tat lace, while Bolita and Ramon look on. Bolita does not believe that Zorro has turned bandit, and Diego asks why he would wear a mask then. Ramon jokes that perhaps Zorro is extremely ugly.
The men notice the Z-Signal and "go out for a fresh air stroll." They suit up and head for the mission, with the Legion already on the way.
On the path, Zorro notices something on the ground, a Yaqui medicine bag. This is way outside their usual stomping grounds, and dangerously close to the mission. Zorro will investigate while Ramon goes ahead.
At the mission, no one knows who lkit the Z, each of the Legion having assumed that someone else authorized to do so had done it.
Lurking nearby, the toughs discuss the plan; they think all the Legion is inside. All the exits save one are blocked, and the Yaqui are guarding that one. And soon the powder will explode.
Of course, Zorro has come up behind them and heard all this.
The Legion realizes something's wrong and attempt to leave, only to run into heavy Yaqui fire. Ramon is wounded.
The Legion tries the back door, to no avail as Zorro rides towards the building. Ramon faints from his wound. The candle fuse burns ever lower.
Zorro is able to unbar the back exit, and the Legionnaires escape. But Ramon is still passed out inside. Zorro goes in after him.
The toughs realize that the back exit has been breached and a few of them circle over that way. Not enough, however, to allow the burdened Zorro to get out the front.
Zorro climbs to the second floor to try a window, but that's blocked as well. Just as he's unlimbering his whip, the mission explodes, dooming him and Ramon!
Tune in next week for Chapter Three, "Descending Doom"!
Comments
