episodes2

The Episodes Continue

"Who is that masked demon?" he demands of Pina.

"I do not know," the frightened man replies. "He calls himself El Zorro," and he points to a large Z carved in the cell wall.

Sergeant Garcia, Monastario's bumbling second in command, and other lancers try to fight Zorro, but they are no match for his speed or dexterity with the sword. Nacho Torres and Zorro escape over the cuartel wall. Zorro directs Torres to a nearby mission where he can ask for sanctuary.
~*~

Henry Calvin the bumbling Sgt. Garcia

Determined to discover the identity of Zorro, Monastario fashions a cape and mask similar to that Zorro wears. He and his soldiers seek out every available suspect. Monastario believes that he will be able to determine by appearance and fighting skill who is behind Zorro's mask. When he arrives at the de la Vega hacienda, Diego has a nervous moment, fearful that his secret has been discovered.

However, it is Benito, the de la Vega head vaquero, Monastario has in his sight. He has Benito put on the costume and becomes even more convinced that this is the right man. He learns that Benito has a romantic relationship with Nacho Torres' daughter Elena. He takes Benito to the Torres hacienda to confront the senorita about asking Benito to rescue her father.
Benito persists in denying that he is Zorro, and Elena maintains that she never asked Benito to rescue her father. Monastario decides that if he engages in another duel with "Zorro," he will be able to tell whether or not this man is the one who defeated him the night before. They fight, and Benito is slightly injured. Fortunately for him, the real Zorro shows up. He and Monastario fight another duel, and again Zorro is able to beat his opponent and escape.
~*~

In the garden of the de la Vega rancho

Monastario has his soldiers scour the countryside in search of Torres, but the man is nowhere to be found. Nor can Monastario learn anything more about Zorro. The two have vanished into the night.
An Indian seeking the reward for information offered by the capitan tells Monastario that Torres is hiding out at the mission church. Monastario gathers his lancers and rides out. On the way he passes Diego de la Vega and the deaf mozo, Bernardo, also headed in the direction of the mission.

Monastario and Diego meet at the church

The antiquated concept of sanctuary frustrates Monastario, but he is reluctant to violate it. As de la Vega points out to him, it will not be a good idea to have both the King of Spain and the Pope angry with him at the same time. There has to be a way to force Torres to break his own sanctuary! It does not take long before the clever Monastario thinks of it.

Padre Felipe and his Indians are harvesting oranges from their orchard. Under Spanish law, Monastario can conscript the Indians if he needs them to work in a project for the king. Monastario devises a project -- building a new road through a section of land filled with large rocks and boulders. Over the protests of the priest, the Indians are taken away from the orchard and put to work moving rocks. To add to the impact and increase the pressure on Torres to relieve their suffering, Monastario orders the Indians whipped. Their cries of pain bring Torres from the church, and for a moment it looks as if Monastario might win.

Will Don Nacho be forced from sanctuary?

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