The Order of the Angels

Chapter 3 Chiesa di Carrara

     River agreed to stay in 1900 Paris to save Picasso's early works and research her book.  

     The doctor spent a week in the TARDIS library reading about the politics and economy of the region as well as customs and common practices of monks during the early renaissance.  This gave him a working knowledge of the local customs in addition to a monk's ritual and behavioral practices.  Studying also gave his beard time to grow, creating an authentic look of a pilgrim who had been traveling on the road. The Doctor set a course for Carrara, Italy September 27 1350 more precisely the summit of Monte d'Arme overlooking the village of Carrara. The TARDIS occasionally seemed to have a mind of its own and took him where he was needed not always where and when he wanted to be. The coordinates were correct but the time was off. The doctor arrived on Friday, September 28, 1436. He checked the monitor to make sure he was in a secluded spot, and the sun was high in the sky.  He had hoped to sneak into the region during the plague of the black death, get in, deal with the angels, and get out without drawing attention to himself.
     
     The Doctor read the date from the monitor and said out loud, "What do you have in mind for me, my Lady?" Knowing it would do no good to try and change the timeline once the TARDIS placed him at a point, the doctor resolved himself to the mission at hand.

     The Doctor recalibrated the scanners of the TARDIS to be sensitive to any quantum fluctuations in the surrounding area. He didn't have to wait long. He pinpointed the location of the source as the Chiesa di Carrara or the Carrara church.

     The Doctor wanted no mistakes on this mission. He decided not to be his flamboyant self, rather he decided to be incognito. He accessed a costume from the TARDIS's costume shop. The doctor put on the brown robes of a monk and tucked his screwdriver in a hidden inner pocket. The Doctor put on a woven handbag with a wineskin holding a liter of water and half a loaf of rustic bread wrapped in a light waxed linen cloth, lastly, the Doctor put on a pair of handmade leather sandals and a small wooden cross. An ancient walking stick he had picked up during the Trojan wars as the final touch and his disguise was complete. He viewed his visage in the mirror of the costume shop and said, "Brother Luke, you look perfect." The Doctor had chosen his alias from St, Luke, the patron saint of doctors.  

     The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS and locked the door. He turned and was met with a view that could only be described as stunning.  At a height of 2,231 ft, the view was breathtaking.  Looking west the Doctor could see the Ligurian sea off the coast. Looking north-east the Doctor had an amazing view of the Apuane Alps.  He admired the view, took a few breaths of clean mountain air before his attention was drawn back to the task at hand, saving Amy and Rory. The Doctor began his descent from Monte d'Arme down to the center of town to the church and the weeping angels. 

     The Doctor took note of the details of the area as he descended. He saw small farms starting at the edge of the village that continued on to the Ligurian sea as well as hillside vineyards. Most of the farms were growing wheat and had goats and or chickens. Many of the farms had large flocks of sheep undoubtedly for the Lanaioli, the wool producers of the region. They were small compared to the large textile houses of Firenza, but they provided a comfortable living for the tradesmen and guilds that operated them.  Tuscan textiles were a very sought-after commodity.  The Doctor knew Firenza was the major trading center of the region and the birthplace of the Italian renaissance. Tuscany as a whole and Firenza, in particular, had started as a wool center first for Italy and then Europe.  The craftsmen were very skilled and even purchased wool from other parts of Europe which they would refine and sell back to those and other countries. The Doctor had also noticed small fishing boats, as well as larger trading ships in the marina.  Carts pulled by oxen were taking large blocks of marble inland and down to the coast undoubtedly to ships headed South to Rome and other large Italian cities, as well as the rest of Europe. 

     The Doctor entered the town of Carrara in the afternoon. He crossed the Carrara creek into the valley that was the town. There were several bakeries,  blacksmiths, carpenter shops, stables, tailors shops, a mill, a town marketplace, a large fountain, a tannery, an inn, several guild halls, many family dwellings, and the church.  There was even a bank, it was nothing that could rival the banks of the Medici family in  Firenza but it helped the local economy and was a sign of the prosperity of the area. Everywhere he looked Carrara marble was present in the architecture. As the Doctor drew nearer to the church he had to admire the beauty of the all-marble building that was the main chapel. He walked to the side entrance and rang the hanging bell and waited as he leaned on his walking stick. 

     Several minutes later the door opened and a monk dressed in similar robes to the Doctor stood in the doorway. The monk looked to be in his thirties to forties with thick dark hair peppered with silver streaks. He was lean and of average height. He Had a round face and dark eyes that sparkled with intelligence. The Doctor knew the stereotype of the fat monk was not as common as people thought. Life demanded hard work and long days of service to survive. 

     The Doctor bowed slightly and said, "Mi scusi, I am but a humble servant of God on a pilgrimage to partake in the Michaelmas ceremony and to see, God willing, the miracle of the Angels. I am brother Luke of Canterbury. "

     The monk in the doorway said "Welcome brother Luke,  I am brother Bernardo.  Have you eaten today?" 

     The Doctor responded, "You are most kind brother Bernardo, thank you. Yes, I have had my bread today." 

     Brother Bernardo lead the Doctor from the church to the monk's quarters behind the church. Brother Bernardo showed the Doctor into the main living and work areas of the monk's quarters. There was a hall with twelve doors. Six on each side facing each other.  The spacing of the doors was very close indicating the rooms were very small and brother Bernardo gestured towards the doors and said, "The monk's cubiculum." 

     Brother Bernardo continued on to the kitchen with the Doctor. The aroma of vegetable soup was heavy in the air.  The modest kitchen had a regular-sized brick domed bread oven and a large fireplace with all the accouterments for cooking, most of which were hanging on the walls while others were on the tables used for preparation.  There were herbs hanging from ropes that had been hung wall to wall. Casks of what surely must be cooking oils, vinegar, and wine were under tables while many baskets of differing vegetables were on the windowsill. There was too much for the eye to take in at a single glance. The best way to describe the kitchen was there was no wasted space. 

     "I was finishing cleaning the chapel along with some of my brothers when you rang. My duties are here now in the kitchen." Brother Bernardo said.  A large metal cauldron was simmering on the hearth and brother Bernardo placed some wood on the embers to keep the fire alive. "Come, brother Luke, I shall introduce you to the senior monk, brother Alonzo." Bernardo said.