The full moon's rays shimmered over the de la Vega courtyard when Bernardo rushed out of the servants’ quarters. Wide awake, he rolled up the sleeves of his sleep shirt and hurried to the staircase before him. His foot hit the butt of a nail in the first stair, and he fell over, but he quickly got up and continued his journey.
Soon reaching the top of the staircase, Bernardo approached the door to Diego’s room and opened it. A fire brewed in the fireplace, sending occasional sparks into the chimney. Passing it, Bernardo jogged to Diego, who lay fast asleep with his pillow close to his chest. His other one had fallen off and rested beside Bernardo’s feet. Bernardo grabbed Diego’s shoulder and tugged it.
“Hm?” he gurgled. Diego opened one eye and glanced at Bernardo. “Oh, come on, Bernardo.” Closing his eye, he tightened his grip on his silky pillow. “Aren’t you a little old to come to an adult when you have a nightmare?”
Bernardo huffed. At once, he leaned over and picked up the fallen pillow. He banged it on Diego’s head.
“Okay, okay,” Diego grumbled. Sitting, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “What’s the matter?”
Frantic, Bernardo threw his hands. He clutched Diego’s arm and pulled on it, but Diego freed himself.
“Whoa, whoa, slow down! Just tell me what happened.”
Bernardo groaned, but he took a deep breath and calmed himself. He drew a halo around his head and made a feather out of his fingers. Bernardo put it behind his ear.
“You went to check on Juan. Okay,” Diego translated.
Nodding, Bernardo put his feet together. He stretched his arms and looked both ways.
“Wait a minute,” Diego said. “He’s not there?” He tossed his covers off him and stood.
With one last nod, Bernardo held cupped hands out to Diego.
“The gold’s missing, too?” Diego wanted to know. He crossed his arms. “I was afraid this would happen, Bernardo.” He tapped his arm as he tried to think.
Bernardo lifted his index finger and drew a Z in midair. “Choo, choo, choo?” he asked.
“Yes,” Diego said, tapping his chin. “¡Ándale!” He and Bernardo approached his fireplace. Diego pressed a button at the end of its stand. The wall moved behind him and Bernardo, revealing a secret passage. At once, a draft passed through the friends’ pajamas, but they went ahead and ducked into the passage. “Get Tornado ready,” Diego told Bernardo. “I’ll meet you there in just a minute.”
Yes, sir, Bernardo mentally said. He rushed by Diego and trotted down a staircase at the back of the passage.
Once he was out of sight, Diego jogged to the corner of the passage and removed an old chest from it. Red gems decorated its rim and top, and the chest was leather bound. Unlocking it, Diego opened it. Seeing the pure black uniform inside, he smiled. “Hello, beautiful.” With those words, Diego turned over the chest. He changed quickly into his Zorro attire and followed Bernardo’s path. His long cape flapped behind him, and he rested his gloved hand on his hat.
The staircase led to a rocky cave with Tornado’s food and water and Zorro’s weapons. Bernardo had just finished tightening Tornado’s saddle when Zorro joined him. He handed him his sword, and his friend slipped it into his sword case. “Tonight’s a special night, Bernardo,” he said as his smile turned into a grin. “You know why?”
Bernardo thought for a minute. He scratched his head and peered desperately into Zorro’s face.
“Get your head in the game, my friend,” Zorro joked. “Tonight marks the first anniversary of Zorro riding for the first time to save Don Nacho from Monastario.”
Ooooh! was the look Bernardo gave him. It wasn’t long until his legs jiggled under him, and he broke into a grin, too.
“Ha! Ha! Ha!” Zorro said, knocking on Bernardo’s forehead. “I’ll see you soon, my friend… with Juan and the gold.”
Bernardo saluted at him. He held onto Tornado’s reins while Zorro mounted him. Bernardo gave the horse’s rump a quick slap, and he leaped into a canter.
Zorro steered his horse to the tunnel’s edge, where they found the familiar vine-covered entrance of the cave. He looked both ways to ensure the coast was clear and then cantered toward Pueblo de Los Ángeles. “Whoo-hoo!” Zorro cheered under the full moon. He leaped over logs in the path and patted Tornado’s neck. “One year, Tornado. We’ve been a team for one year.”
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