‘And over there – you can’t see it; it’s past the city – but over there is my favourite tree in all the world, and part of the reason I came here. It’s called the Ormiston Yew.’
‘How can you have a favourite tree?’ said Carmen. ‘Doesn’t it make all the other trees jealous?’
The guide beckoned them back in and, hands cold, they wandered into the little observatory room. The guide started to explain clearly how the Camera Obscura worked – the little hole, the lens – but Carmen didn’t really listen, so transfixed was she by the view on the large round table: the city, just as she had seen it laid out in front of her. It looked like a picture, but the traffic moved and the traffic lights changed. She was watching the world on a table.
‘Oh mygoodness!’
The guide smiled, obviously never tired of people’s reactions. ‘Oke, look at this!’
They pored over it, making cars drive over their fingers, zooming in through the clear air to boats on the water, to the great clock on the Balmoral Hotel, forever set four minutes fast to chivvy the late traveller. It was as if you could tumble straight into the whole wonderful world of the city, see all its secrets, go behind any door.
‘This is … so amazing.’
Carmen felt as they watched it that odd feeling of peace she’d felt while making the little mouse decorations, or the old days of choosing the right lace for the right wedding dress back in haberdashery. It felt like flow; time vanished, and she forgot all about the previous evening. They were both surprised when another group, a school party, interrupted them, their noisy chatter and shouting showing they had also had a rather exciting time in the mirror maze, a fact borne out by the teacher’s slightly weary expression.
They took their chance to leave; Carmen had, once again, rather outweighed what might be expected of a lunch hour under normal circumstances.
At the door, they parted.
‘I have a lecture,’ said Oke.
‘Ooh, what are you learning today, super-swot?’
He frowned.
‘I’mgivinga lecture,’ he clarified.
‘Oh yes, I remember!’ said Carmen. ‘Well! Get you.’
He smiled and, without touching her in any way, turned to leave.
‘Thank you,’ said Carmen finally as they clattered back down the narrow stairway. ‘Thank you for taking me there. I really enjoyed it.’
He grinned.
‘I want to see everything before I go.’
‘Where? Where are you going?’ she said suddenly.
‘I don’t know … It was a term placement but they’ve asked me to stay on for a bit.’
Carmen suddenly found she was interested in the answer.
‘And are you going to?’
He shrugged.
‘Not sure yet.’
‘So you might just be disappearing at Christmas?’
Carmen was surprised to find that she rather minded. It had been nice to meet a friend.
‘I don’t know – when is that?’ he said, but he smiled to show her he was teasing.
Carmen smiled back.
‘Okay,’ she said.
