Mythical Creatures Scene 2: Based on a True Story
When he returned to the Tardis, the shops were beginning to open. Right next to him was a blue storefront called Crow Bookshop, and the keeper, a middle-aged woman with wild blonde hair, was rolling out a rack that said “Vermont authors.” He decided to nose through it, and something caught his eye: The Man with Two Hearts by Letitia Green.
He picked it up for a closer look. The cover showed a young man entwined with a scantily clad woman, except that he had one arm around and was kissing a second, slightly more modestly dressed, woman. In the background was a third, fully clothed, glaring angrily at the trio. Obviously a romance, but not a traditional one. He flipped it over to read the blurb:
Donovan’s race had two hearts. One of his was fully devoted to his wife, Bianca. His father was pressing him to give the other to the Princess Cassandra, cementing his family’s alliance with the crown.But then he met Violet, a traveler from another world, distantly related to Donovan’s people but with only one heart. Something about her ignited his passions and drove him to defy his family.
Could he reconcile the calling of his hearts with the calling of family duty? Could Violet learn to accept the conventions of this society and share the man she loved?
It certainly sounded like the same Letitia he knew. It wasn’t the sort of thing he usually read, but he couldn’t resist opening it.The shopkeeper watched with curiosity. Men weren’t typically interested in books like that; then again, there was something very atypical about this particular man. She couldn’t pin her finger on it. She had no idea he was actually reading the book as he flipped through the pages. And since when was there a blue box in the middle of the road? She hadn’t heard about any new sculpture being brought in.
About halfway through, the writing became very detailed about the characters’ private interactions. Writing like that, if well done, could make the reader feel… well, like part of the action. Although he did not have the same biological drive as humans, he was still male; the right stimulus could still affect him. Thanks to a recent incident on Delavega, he was more susceptible than usual. Not something he wanted to happen in the middle of a public road. He snapped the book shut, uncertain whether to continue reading it or not, and finally decided to compromise by turning to the “About the Author” page in the back.
Letitia Green has always been interested in literature, but it was not until late in life that she began to write her own. Her first novel, The Time Traveler, was published after she turned forty. Since then, she has written An Enlightened Soul and The Man with Two Hearts and claims to have plenty more in her head. She cites Anne McCaffrey as her primary influence in writing science fiction romance.
Now he was certain he had to read all of them. What if she’d revealed too much? Enough for someone to figure out she knew him? She would be in danger if any of his surviving enemies found out.“Do you have her other two?” he asked the shopkeeper.
“Yes, I think so,” she said. So, he was British, she concluded. That might explain why he seemed so odd. “If they’re not on that rack, I’ll find them for you inside.”
At that point, she went back into the store and left him alone, but he was sure she was smirking at him.
He found the other two and took them in. “Can you hold these while I go get some money?” he asked.
“No problem,” she said. And there was that smirk again.
He started to leave, then turned back and added quietly, “Is there somewhere around here that buys used jewelry?”
Taken aback, she studied him for a moment. Apparently deciding that no self-respecting thief would be caught dead buying romance novels, she gave him directions. He found the shop, sold a broken gold watch he’d had in his pocket, came back and bought the books, and then tried to decide what to do. It was risky to go into the Tardis with the shopkeeper right there, but he had to find a moderately private place to sit and read. Maybe a restaurant, at a corner table? At least he could get a decent meal with some of the cash. The shopkeeper looked startled when he popped in once again to ask her for a recommendation.
* * * * *
The writing was good, he discovered as he flipped through all three books in reverse order of publication while taking lunch at the New England Culinary Institute. He’d grabbed a newspaper to hide them behind so he could read at his own pace without drawing attention; The Burlington Free Press cost fifty cents, exact change (“Americans,” he’d sighed when he saw it), but one called Seven Days was actually free, so that was the one he’d chosen.
None of Letitia’s heroes held more than a superficial resemblance to him. The Man with Two Hearts was pretty much exactly like it said on the cover, and of course Donovan got to choose Violet in the end, and Violet learned to accept sharing him with Bianca because they became best friends. Her “enlightened soul” was a Tibetan monk who began to question what he’d been taught when he fell in love with a nearby farmer’s daughter. The time traveler, however, was a bit more worrisome; although he was human and actually forty years old (rather than just looking like it), he had a time machine in which he wandered the universe alone.
The Doctor read this one more carefully, which unfortunately meant he was more affected by the writing (the newspaper turned out to be doubly useful in hiding his face). He tried to skim over those sections and focus on analysing the book.
The hero’s personality was actually nothing like his; he was cold and jaded and thought he’d seen everything. But then he met the heroine, who was caught up in a high-tech civil war between her planet’s ruling and working classes; she had one parent from each class. The hero helped her end the war, and in the process fell in love with her and learned to enjoy life again.
He concluded that these novels would not likely lead anyone to him; Letitia was safe. Only someone who knew him well would suspect that she did, too; if he could find her, he might suggest she send copies to Sarah Jane.
With that thought, he realized why he was here: to find Letitia. He needed a companion, and she’d already said she wanted the job. But how could he find her? Trick her publisher into giving him an address?
He closed the book and turned another page of Seven Days, something he’d done every five minutes or so to keep up the illusion that he was reading it, and there was his answer.
“Green Light, an eclectic dance band, will play this Friday night at Club Metronome. Front man Forest Green brings us searing guitar and a hypnotic baritone, while his sister Tansy supplies lush keyboards and an ethereal soprano. But what really makes them unique is the percussion section: a collection of ethnic drums, gongs, rattles and chimes bring new life to their cover tunes and make their originals truly original.”
There was a photo of the band, and while it wasn’t the best, it was enough to suggest that this was the same Forest Green who’d stared at him while his mother read The Last Unicorn.“Waiter, what day is this?” he called.
“It’s Friday, sir.”
The Doctor smiled. It had been a long time since he’d gone to a concert.
Scene Selection
1. The Earth Line 6. Three Days 2. Based on a True Story 7. Cassiopeia 3. Tempus Vivat 8. Connection 4. Green Light 9. No Happy Endings 5. Reunion Commentary