Chapter 1

The military wagon traveled down the dusty road, flanked by soldiers on horseback. Sergeant Jaime Mendoza sat on the wagon with the driver, Corporal Perez. The journey had taken several days and had been long and exhausting for the soldiers…"The men are tired, Sergeant. Can we stop and rest?"

"We are all tired but we have to find Joaquin Correna. He was sighted on this road two days ago." The revolutionaries were being sought because of their opposition to the King and support of the Mexican regime. Many bounty hunters wanted to capture them because of the large reward regardless to their loyalty or lack of loyalty to the king. "Personally I would rather feel a little hunger than two feet of Correna's steel. We'll keep moving on."

"But me, Perez. . . I am the best."

"I don't want to hear anymore grumbling." Mendoza was frustrated at the soldiers' constant grumbling. What I wouldn't do for a plate of Senorita Victoria's tamales… The portly sergeant was startled from his thoughts as riders rushed down the hillside as the wagon passed by. The shots fired at the wagon barely missed Mendoza. "Madre de Dios!"

"There they are! Watch out! He's got a rifle!"

The riders surrounded the wagon, firing pistols and swinging their swords. Mendoza drew out his own sword and jumped down from the wagon seat. "Protect the wagon!" The sergeant ran to the side of the wagon while Perez crouched down by the horses. One of the riders knocked a barrel of gunpowder from the wagon, then came upon Mendoza, striking him in the arm with his sword. Mendoza clutched his injured arm and knelt down in pain.

Another rider cut the ropes freeing the horses tied to the wagon who ran away in fear. "This is one shipment of ammunition that will not be used against the people! Down with Spain! Free Mexico! Viva la Revolution!"

"Run for your life! Take cover, men! Fast!" The soldiers ran as a keg of ammunition exploded. The debris from the explosion fell on the soldiers who took cover behind some rocks. The remaining soldiers pursued the riders as Zorro brought Toronado to a halt just as the wagon blew up. "Zorro, they've gone!"

ZZZ

Mendoza nailed up a wanted poster of Joaquin Correna on a post on the tavern porch. The authorities were determined to find the revolutionary. The bounty on his head made him fair game for anyone who wanted to make a hefty fortune…

"Five thousand pesos, Sergeant?" Diego enquired.

"Ah, not enough. In my opinion, Don Diego."

"That's almost as much as the price on Zorro's head."

"Joaquin Correna injured my arm. If it weren't for Zorro, I would have bled to death."

"Well, if Joaquin Correna is in California, we may soon be independent from Spanish rule." Victoria interrupted.

"Do you support Correna, Señorita Victoria?"

"I support any resistance that opposes the tyranny of men, Sergeant Mendoza," Victoria replied smugly.

Mendoza was distracted by the sound of calliope music as a circus wagon with a sign that read "The Circus Rodriguez, Daring Acrobats Clowns & Magic" painted on it pulled up to the entrance of the pueblo. Diego and Victoria glanced at the wagon disinterestedly and went inside the tavern. Mendoza and Sepulveda walked over to the gate where the wagon had stopped. "Ah, the circus. I love the circus," the fascinated sergeant sighed.

"May we have your travel papers, please, Señor?"

"And why should I have to show you my papers?" It would not do for the inept sergeant to find out exactly who was in the back of the wagon…

"What is the problem, Señor?"

"This man won't let us go into the pueblo without these papers. . ."

"Joaquin Correna has been seen in the area. We must question all fellow travelers passing through the pueblo." Mendoza stopped speaking when a beautiful blond- haired woman emerged from the back of the wagon and smiled at him. "However, in this case, I can make an exception for honest circus folk like yourselves."

"You're very kind, Sergeant," the young woman smiled at the sergeant. He seemed like a nice enough fellow…

"Jaime Mendoza, at your service," the sergeant took off his hat and bowed politely to the stunning newcomer.

"Call me Zafira. Perhaps you'd like to attend our performance this evening," she smiled disarmingly as she pulled a ticket from her blouse, "As my guest."

"I. . .I. . .I would be honored. Ever since I was a small boy, I dreamed of running away and joining the circus."

"Well, it's never too late to listen to your dreams, Sergeant. You'd make a wonderful strong man."

"Well." Mendoza's grin turned into alarm as a clanging sound and a groan came from the back of the wagon, "What was that?"

"Our trampoline artist, Señor Alevar. I am afraid he had too much to drink last night. We have to sober him up for tonight's show. Adios, Sergeant." The wagon moved forward as Mendoza stepped out of the way. I wonder what that was all about…

ZZZ

Later that night..

The tavern rang with the sounds of applause and circus music. The crowd watched as Mendoza served as a target for the knife thrower. The clown seemed to struggle with his handful of knives. Picking one, he aimed it at Mendoza who stood in front of the board. The knife barely missed Mendoza's left ear as Victoria and Felipe watch amazed at the clown's skill with a knife. The clown threw another knife that hit near Mendoza's right ear, then under his left arm and finally above the sergeant's head. Mendoza sighed with relief as the act was finally over. "Muchas gracias. Ah, the circus. I love the circus."

"Thank you, Sergeant," the clown said to the sergeant who was now laughing. Mendoza reclaimed his seat next to Diego, who patted him on the back. "I am glad that is over!"

"And now it gives me great pleasure to introduce. . . Direct from a world tour in which he dazzled the crown heads of Europe and the Orient….The premier acrobat of the universe, the sensational, stunning, superb, spectacular. . . Senor Alevar!"

The injured man burst through the curtains with a flourish, waving his arm in the air before taking a bow. He nearly fell forward as the crowd clapped. Alevar went over to his trampoline. Putting his arms out, he jumped higher, then grabbed his side. Repeating the move, this time he doubled over and stumbled off the trampoline. The clown caught him before he fell to the ground. "No problem, no problem. We'll be right back. No problem."

"Poor fellow, he drinks," Mendoza inserted.

"Yes, it does take its toll," Diego agreed.

"You haven't seen anything yet. Wait until you see this woman, she is magnificent. It is a shame that Don Alejandro is out of town."

"And the show will go on," the clown stated as he returned to the stage, "Ladies and gentleman, for your delight, to mystify you with feats of magic, the incomparable, the enchanting Señorita Zafira!"

A cloud of smoke suddenly appeared as Zafira walked out of it, waving her arm. She waved a red cloth up and down several times before tossing it in the air as the cloth turned into a cane.

"I told you, Diego. She is magnificent."

The tall caballero stared at the woman he had once been engaged to….

"Diego! Diego!" Zafira rushed up to Diego who stood to his feet. "Yes!"

"Yes?" the young college student kissed her passionately as she reaffirmed her answer. "Absolutely and positively yes."

"As soon as I graduate, we'll sail back to California and get married."

"Why must we wait? I just want to be your wife, Diego. Now."

"You know the church at Colmenar? I will speak to the priest this afternoon. Meet me there at sundown. We'll get married today. Yes?"

"Yes."

The sound of loud applause brought Diego back to the present. Zafira lit a bowl on fire then carried it so the audience could see. She waved it up and down a couple of times and the fire extinguished, turning into paper flowers. The clown helped Zafira down off the stage and she walked up to Mendoza, intending to give him the bowl of flowers. She put her hand up to his ear and pulled out a bouquet of flowers. The young woman was startled as she finally noticed Diego sitting beside the sergeant… Zafira held the flowers out to her former fiancée as Victoria looked on jealously. "Hello again, Diego."