The Littlest Timelord: Cracks in Time

Chapter 26

"Well, no. I suspect nothing will be easy with Mister Van Gogh. Now, he'll probably be in the local cafe. Sort of orangey light, chairs and tables outside/"

Amy opened her guide book and flipped to a painting of an outdoor café. "Like this?"

"That's the one."

They looked up and saw the café in front of them.

"Or indeed like that," Amy said.

"Yeah, exactly like that." The Doctor walked up to the café, Elise and Amy following behind. "Good evening. Does the name Vincent Van Gogh ring a bell?"

"Don't mention that man to me," a man said storming back inside.

"Excuse me. Do you know Vincent Van Gogh?" the Doctor asked the waitresses.

"Unfortunately."

"Unfortunately?" Amy asked.

"He's drunk, he's mad and he never pays his bills."

"Good painter, though, eh?" the Doctor asked them.

The waitresses laughed.

The Doctor sat down in a chair, placing Elise in the one beside him.

"Come on! Come on! One painting for one drink. That's not a bad deal," they heard.

Vincent Van Gogh and the man from before stepped outside.

Both the Doctor and Amy smiled with excitement at seeing him.

Elise would have too if she had known more about him.

"It wouldn't be a bad deal if the painting were any good. I can't hang that up on my walls. It'd scare the customers half to death. It's bad enough having you in here in person, let alone looming over the customers day and night in a stupid hat. You pay money or you get out."

"I'll pay, if you like," the Doctor said.

"What?"

"Well, if you like, I'll pay for the drink. Or I'll pay for the painting and you can use the money to pay for the drink."

"Exactly who are you?" Vincent asked.

"Oh, I'm new in town."

"Well, in that case, you don't know three things. One, I pay for my own drinks, thank you."

Everyone around him laughed.

"Two, no one ever buys any of my paintings or they would be laughed out of town. So if you want to stay in town, I suggest you keep your cash to yourself. And three, your friend's cute, but you should keep your big nose out of other people's business." Vincent turned back to the manager of the bar. "Come on, just one more drink. I'll pay tomorrow."

"No."

"Or, on the other hand, slightly more compassionately, yes?"

"Or, on the other hand, to protect my business from madmen, no."

"Or?"

Amy groaned loudly, tired of listening to them argue. "Oh look, just shut up, the pair of you. I would like a bottle of wine, please, which I will then share with whomever I choose."

"That could be good," Vincent said.

"That's good by me," the manager agreed.

"Good," Amy said and entered the café.

The Doctor, Elise, and Vincent went into the café and sat down at a table.

Amy was given her bottle of wine and she poured some for Vincent and herself as they talked.

"That accent of yours. You from Holland like me?" Vincent asked Amy.

"Yes," the Doctor said at the same time Amy said, "No."

"She means yes," the Doctor told Vincent, "So, start again. Hello, I'm the Doctor." He held out his hand for Vincent to shake.

"I knew it!"

The Doctor dropped his hand. "Sorry?"

"My brother's always sending doctors, but you won't be able to help."

The Doctor laughed. "Oh, no, not that kind of doctor." He noticed one of Vincent's paintings sitting on the floor next to his chair. "That's incredible, don't you think, Amy?"

"Absolutely. One of my favorites."

"One of my favorite whats?" Vincent asked, "You've never seen my work before."

"Ah yes. One of my favorite paintings that I've ever seen, generally," Amy corrected herself.

"Then you can't have seen many paintings, then. I know it's terrible. It's the best I can do. Your hair's orange."

Amy leaned forward. "Yes. So's yours."

"Yes. It was more orange, but now is, of course, less."

Elise and the Doctor both rolled their eyes in unison.

"So. Er, Vincent, painted any churches recently? Any churchy plans? Are churches, chapels, religiousy stuff like that, something you'd like to get into? You know, fairly soon?" the Doctor asked.

"Well, there is one church I'm thinking of painting when the weather is right."

"That is very good news."

A woman ran into the café screaming, "She's been murdered! Help me!"

"That, on the other hand, isn't quite such good news. Come on, Amy, Vincent, Elise!"

They all got up from their chairs and ran out into the street.

"Please, let me look. I'm a doctor," the Doctor said, kneeling next to the body.

Amy picked Elise up and covered her face with her scarf. She didn't need to see something like this.

"Oh no, no, no."

A woman came running up to them. "Away, all of you vultures. This is my daughter. Giselle. What monster could have done this? Get away from her!"

"Okay, okay," the Doctor said standing up and backing away from the distraught mother.

"Get that madman out of here!" she yelled.

The crowd started throwing stones at them.

"You bring this on us. Your madness! You!"

They all ran out into an alleyway.

"Are you all right?" the Doctor asked Vincent.

Amy checked Elise over for any injuries, but the small Timelord was unharmed.

"Yes, I'm used to it," Vincent told him.

"Has anything like this murder happened here before?"

"Only a week ago. It's a terrible time."

"As I thought. As I thought. Come on, we'd better get you home."

"Where are you staying tonight?"

The Doctor clapped Vincent on the shoulder with a smile. "Oh, you're very kind."

Amy giggled nervously and then followed after the Doctor, Elise still in her arms.