Carla sat in the shade. The late afternoon sun filtered through the tree above her. She had spent an hour in the old observatory gazing into her beloved space. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
She turned sharply, startled by the deep, gravelly voice. A white haired gentleman sat next to her calmly observing the park.
“Not a bad place to be when one is stressed.”
“Sometimes. Not as much as I would like. You?”
“Oh, I generally come about once a week. When I’m running errands.” He leaned back on the bench turning his eyes on her. They were a pale blue, almost white and piercing. “Do you live in Oasis Springs?”
She looked away from that penetrating gaze. “No. No, I live in Newcrest. That’s why I don’t come out much.”
“Do you? Live here, I mean.”
“No,” he said. “I live in Alkirakuroo.”
Carla turned swiftly. “Oh.” She knew that name. She thought deeply. “There was a lab there once, wasn’t there? Some time ago? They were investigating artifacts they found. The ones believed to be placed by the indigenous many centuries ago.”
“That’s right.” His eyes were steady on her. “That lab is gone now though.”
“Yes! There was some kind of accident, wasn’t there? An explosion or something.”
He shifted his head to the side. “Something like that.”
“Wow. So, you live there? That must be interesting.”
“It must be quite a distance from here. Out west?”
“It’s only about an hour and a half.”
“Really? I didn’t know that. It’s quite a way to come to run errands.”
“Well, Oasis Springs is the closest larger town. Alkirakuroo doesn’t have everything we need.”
The man turned to look again at the observatory.
“Do you know much about that?” He pointed to it.
“Really?” She was surprised.
“In my grandfather’s backyard.”
“It was relocated a couple of years ago, refurbished and now brings joy to many.”
“It does.” Carla wondered at this odd man.
“You have an interest in science?”
“Especially the science of the skies?”
“There is a new lab in Alkirakuroo now.”
“There is?” Her interest immediately piqued.
He nodded. “A military lab. Although it is privately run.”
“Oh.” Her heart was leaping.
“Have you had experience in a lab?”
“Yes.” She lost her voice.
He passed her a business card. “We are in need of lab technicians. Perhaps you would be interested? Send me an email and your resume.” He tapped the card. Dr Jones, it said. “I am Dr Jones and that is my email address.”
“I look forward to hearing from you, Carla.” He tipped his non-existent hat, turned on his heel and was gone.
It wasn’t until she was in her car driving home, the conversation running over in her head, she realised, she never told him her name.
