César de Echagüe's Secret

By luigi_pagano

Sun, 24 Feb 2019
  • 1630 reads
8 comments
 
César de Echagüe was a wealthy
and elegant Mexican aristocrat
descended from a Spanish branch.
Affable, lazy, cynical and sceptic
and with an apparent superficiality
he lived in the San Antonio ranch.
 
But beneath this innocuous façade
lurked a deep and noble secret:
he was a masked vigilant crusader
determined to defend the weak
from cruel exploiting blackguards
and fighting for freedom and justice.
 
No one knew of this dual identity,
not even associates or close friends;
he maintained the disguise all along
and anybody who attempted to probe
would end in failure and be wrong.
 
His alter ego was called El Coyote.
When needed to come to the rescue
he'd be ready in the blink of an eye,
to ride through pampas and peyotes
wearing Mexican peasant clothes,
black gloves and a large sombrero.
 
A wolf's head in a written message
and a shot to a scoundrel's ear lobe
were two of his most famous marks
that were meant to remind the rogues
that to pick on the vulnerable poor
would be met with instant retribution.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2019
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Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I hadn't heard of him, sounds like another Scarlet Pimpernel/Robin Hood? How violent would/could he be? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

According to Wikipedia, El Coyote is the character created by the Spanish author José Mallorquí y Figuerola in 1943, It is very similar to Zorro although acting several years later. He was portrayed as an indolent and harmless man but just like Zorro and Robin Hood he was the protector of the poor and downtrodden and would fight the transgressors without mercy. He appeared in nearly 200 pulp-fiction novels between 1944 and 1953.

Luigi x
 

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Please excuse me for asking Luigi, but are you (Mexican) Spanish? I always thought you were Italian. Probably all of these together hey and more? Great imagination. Italian Spanish English Welsh namit .. Polyglot.

All the best! & Nolan

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hello Nolan. You are correct: I am Italian but I am interested in many cultures. The character to which this poem refers was authored by a Spanish writer.

Thanks for reading and commenting.
Regards, Luigi

 

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Yebo! Yes! Diversity is always a good thing, in South-Africa we have eleven offical languages. Can you beat that? We are the rainbow nation.

Have you read up on the african people's too? Ancient traditions and folklore, listen staring solemly into the dwindling flames and embers. Have you friends? 

Stay well! Mooi bly! Sala ghachle!

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Eleven languages, eh? That's quite amazing, Nolan.
In Italy there is only one official language but all regions have their own dialect.

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I think your children were and grandchildren will be very lucky to have a Grandpa who knows so many exciting stories!

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hello Di.
I'd like to think that my passion for reading encouraged my daughters who are avid readers. Now the shoe is on the other foot and it is they who suggest what I should read.
My grandson likes to be read to, not so much by me as by my wife.

Luigi x