It’s the last fork, I promise. Gabriel said as he took a sharp right turn. In the last thirty minutes, they’ve made a lot of twists and turns on small roads.
I don’t mind. Ida said. She actually enjoyed the car ride, secretly hoping it would last longer. She always likes the feeling of moving, of being suspended, never reaching a destination. And there’s something about being in the car with him that felt comforting to her.
Yeah, my dad wanted it to be that way. He’s a bit of a hermit and that got even worse when he retired. He searched for the most isolated lot he can find. He said.
It’s definitely hidden, that’s for sure! She squinted her eyes as they approached closer. A couple of buildings were beginning to take shape in the distance.
Did you know that we built this place, my dad and I? He was an architect and it’s his own design.
Really? I didn’t know that Ollie was an architect. She said. I guess we never got to that part! I’ve always just thought he’s been doing this all his life.
Ah, no, he only built this after he retired, around 10 years ago. He said. He built the very first structure – a small studio and then we built everything else, after I got my bachelor’s. It was my first building project.
That’s quite special. She said.
They both looked ahead as the property finally came into full view.
Welcome to the Night Sky Retreat and Observatory. He said proudly. So we have the main house right there where the family stays. Gabriel pointed through the right of the car. And that apartment are where our guests stay, pointing to the left. That tower is the last one we built, and where all the magic happens. He said pointing to it but Ida is already looking at it. The observatory tower is capped with a light blue dome where a large telescope peeks out through a square opening in its roof. It stands between the house and the apartment which face each other in a 45 degree angle.
It’s so wonderful! She blurted out as she laid her face on her folded arms, resting against the car window sill.
They’ve finally stopped and Gabriel parked on the side of the main house. They went out of the car. Ida is still looking up at the tower.
Don’t worry, we’ll go back out quickly. I’ll give you a quick tour before it gets dark. He said. He got their bags out from the car trunk and walked towards the house.
That’d be nice. Ida said as she took her bags from Gabriel and went inside with him.
After quickly dropping their bags by the entrance, they headed out. Gabriel toured Ida inside the apartment. There is a studio and an office on the ground floor and 2 studios on the first floor which could be connected by a door.
It’s really a nice setup. How many guests do you welcome at a time? She asked as they walked out of the studio.
My dad only accepts maximum 4 guests at a time. He doesn’t market it at all. Mostly, only those who discover him through his blog or forum posts. A lot of them are here to take photos. They keep him company when I’m away. We welcome more guests, including families, during the summer when I’m here to help.
He then led them to a small outdoor fireplace in front of the observatory tower. They sat on the large flat stones surrounding it.
I’ll bring you up the tower later when the night sets in, that is, if you can still wait? He chided.
Haha, yes, a couple of hours won’t matter. She folded her legs and looked around their surroundings. There was a pathway that circled around the property which is surrounded by pine and cedar trees. How did Ollie find this place?
Not really sure. He bought this lot very early on. I can’t remember exactly when but I definitely have memories of this place when I was 5. First, we just camped out here, then he built the small studio we just saw.
Seems like there’s something particular that really drew him here. She commented.
Well, definitely it’s the dark skies. The Pyrenees has one of the darkest skies in France, if not one of the darkest in the world. Especially near Pic du midi which is officially classified as a dark sky, but you must already know that. He said.
Yeah, I did a thorough research on all the dark sky locations of the world at some point. There’s also dark sky locations in Spain…Do you know Montsec?
Ah yeah. Just south of the Pyrenees. He answered.
My dad, he lives in the same province where it’s located – Lleida. He took me there when I was 11 on my summer vacation. It was my first time in Spain. It was only that one time…but it was very memorable because we saw the Hale-bopp comet!
Wasn’t it magnificent? My dad and I also saw it, here on this very ground. I was 14. It was my spring vacation. We only had the studio at this point and he just bought this brand new telescope. I looked at with my binoculars while he took photos of it, everyday, for two weeks straight. If he didn’t have to work and I didn’t have to go back to school, we would have stayed the 2 months that it was visible on earth.
She laughed. I can imagine that about Ollie. Do you that’s how I found him? Through his comet photos?
Oh yeah?
I’ve been researching online about comets and his forum post came up. He posted his photos of Hale-bopp and that of Halley’s there.
Yeah, that’s his favorite photos.
Mine too. Ida answered. I mean, it’s my favorites of his. I wish I could take them myself. I have this kind of obsession with comets. I did a school paper on that when I was 12, on how comets could have started life on earth.
And what did you find out? He said, tossing a twig into a circle of ash where a fire had once burned.
You probably already know all of this…
I’m still curious to know what your 12 year old found out. He said encouragingly. Go on.
Well, I mostly focused on the theory of panspermia – that comets might have carried microbial life or simple replicating molecules, from another part of the universe to Earth.
I’ve always liked that theory, that life might not have originated on Earth but elsewhere. There’s another theory suggesting that higher advanced civilization, sent us the building blocks of life. I find that intriguing. He said.
I find that a bit scary, if it’s true. For me, it means there’s a lot that we don’t know. Would that civilization benevolent or malevolent, and what’s their purpose of doing it. It terrifies me to be honest.
Not everything we don’t know could terrifying, it could actually even be really good. I don’t know but I have this feeling that the the universe is good in general or neutral at worst.
I would like to think that the universe is good too, along with other civilizations if they exist. But just looking at our own planet, where there is violence…wars. We don’t make a good case, don’t we?
But you’re forgetting the part that we have love and kindness too in this world. Maybe we’re the kind of civilization that’s still figuring it out. There’s a lot we still don’t know. Gabriel said in a light tone.
She just nodded, thinking about what he said.
Gabriel stretched out his legs and laid against a stone. Have you always been this fascinated by the night sky? Gabriel asked.
Yes, but I think it really started with that trip with my dad. She said. I’d like to think that I have special connection to it. I’ll tell you a story of how I was conceived. Ollie knows this story, do you want to know? She asked a bit more excitedly than she meant to.
Umm yes, of course, I’m always curious about the conception story of people I’ve just met. He teased.
She laughed. Well, I am not exactly sure. It’s just a hypothesis. So I was born in the first week of November in ‘86, nine months before that should be around February 9, when Halley’s comet came to visit Earth. It was around the days when my parents first met each other. I know because I remember my mom telling me, he met my dad, just before Valentines and they spent Valentines together…
That sounds like a start of a romantic movie…
A sappy one…
But wait, they just met each other and then they had…you?
Yeah, it was apparently love at first sight. They met in El Nido in Palawan, somewhere on the beach. Back on those days, it was a real paradise. So anyway, on that particular day, under the spell of the Halley’s comet, they got a bit daring and adventurous. Et voila, I was created!
You tell it so funnily. He laughed. But seriously, do you think they love each other? Or was it just sexual attraction, I mean apparently explosive sexual attraction, he grinned.
I ask myself that all the time. She answered changing her tone. I’ve always wanted to ask my dad but I never had the chance. But maybe it’s more of a fling, I mean for my dad, because after a year, just a few months after I was born. My dad left us….
Oh I’m sorry. That was very insensitive of me. He said as he sat up, awkwardly reaching his left arm out and rested it at the back of his right ear.
No, it’s okay. Really. She said rather unconvincingly. It was a long time ago.
So it’s something you share with your dad too, the night sky? He asked, in an attempt to change the topic.
Yes, he should have been with me here actually.
Oh, he could have come, I wouldn’t have minded. We have a lot of spare rooms.
No, no, it’s not that. He canceled months ago. He’s on a trip somewhere.
Ah…sorry. I should just really keep my mouth shut. He said apologetically.
No, don’t be. It was just not the right time…she answered.
They both looked at the sky, as if on cue. It started to get dark.
Come, I’ll show you your room. He said as they circled back in front of the main house.
He led her to a nicely sized room in the middle of two other bedrooms. This is actually my room but I’m staying at my dad’s, pointing at the right wall. I still have to go through his personal stuff tonight. And then on the other side is my sister’s, she’s staying there tomorrow.
She stayed by the door and took a look inside. It has a minimal layout. A large bed is pushed back against the wall facing the large windows with the same view as the balcony below. Coming in, she saw a wardrobe and a table made from pine wood, lining the left side of the room. On the right, is a door to the bathroom. A lamp and a picture frame stood on top of a bedside table on the right corner of the room. It look very cozy, thank you.
I hope you’ll be able to sleep here well tonight. I’ll get out the big duvet for you, in case you’re cold. He said while opening the wardrobe. He rummaged inside and as he pulled out a thick duvet, some wooden fresheners fell.
Here you go, Gabriel placed the duvet on top of the bed.
Thanks. She dropped her bags on the floor, went down on her knees and picked up the fresheners that fell. She saw something glinting on the corner feet of the closet. She reached for it. I think someone left this, she said handing it to him as she stood up. It was a small diamond earring.
Ah. His expression changed, becoming serious again. Ida observed this but did not say anything.
He headed out the door. I’ll leave you to have some rest. But if you want to catch the sunset, you’re very welcome to join me down at the balcony and have some drinks.
Thanks, I probably will. She said. I’ll just lie down for a bit.
When Gabriel left, she laid flat on the bed and looked at the ceiling. She could smell the scent of pines coming from the furniture and the wooden flooring. She rolled to her right and looked at the photo she noticed earlier. She recognized Ollie, Gabriel, and a dark-haired woman who she thinks must be his sister. A few moments later, she got up and took her ukelele from its case, sat down on the bed, and eased her back on the headboard. She strummed a song she remembers by heart, closed her eyes, and started to sing.