Take me to Church [Rikki]

[Rikki (DELETED 9657)]

That was the second time that Harrison had mentioned something along the lines of a hard lifestyle, leaving Rikki with even more questions than she was able to get answers for. He opened a door for her to ask them, but each way she could think of phrasing it seemed to pry more than the last. Still, she couldn't help the possibilities running through her head. Was it a hard childhood? Strict or abusive parents? Or, maybe he had simply gotten himself into trouble with the wrong kind of people. Either way, she could only imagine what it took to shape the man before her.

"I understand, completely. Mm, maybe that is why I developed such a passion for space. When the world is so damaged, I can look to the stars...completely untouched by the forces of man," she said as she leaned over to peer at the information on Harrison's phone screen. There wasn't much in terms of specifics on the observatory, itself, but it housed a telescope and that was all that mattered. A smile lit up her expression. The fact that it was public made it all the brighter, if only due to the knowledge that she had found herself her own little sanctuary.

She nodded enthusiastically at his suggestion, even going so far as to clap her hands together."Of course I would love to go! I feel like a child and you just handed me candy. Sorry, Harrison. Looks like you are stuck with me for a little bit longer," she said with a dainty shrug. If she had known him better, she might hooked her arm through his, like he was the gentlemanly escort from old movies. Despite that fact that she kept her hands secured around her cup, she remained close to his side as they set off for the train. The longer she was around him, the more she found she liked it. It was easy, and comfortable.

As they made their way to the train station, which wasn't too far, her steps were light and bouncy. Her excitement was apparent, but she did her best to reign it in. "So, Harrison the minister from Scotland...what's it like there? My parents moved us from England when I was very young, and I haven't been back to Europe, since. I don't remember anything about it, which certainly makes for a interesting conversation when they ask me about my accent." Over the years, her parents had maintained their accent, and all of their children had developed it, despite their upbringing in the United States. To date, only her father had returned due to his political obligations...leaving Rikki to simply wonder about the country that they had left behind.

[Harrison]

It made sense. Each person dealt with trauma and the sickness of the world in their own ways. Some wanted to escape, while others didn’t know how to. And those who couldn’t escape had to figure out the best way to handle what was thrown their way. Harrison had dealt with it in many ways, and he preferred peace to chaos. This, he had discovered and embraced.

Whatever comment he might have made regarding Rikki’s choices was banished in the face of her excitement. Harrison’s brows arched, a smile stretching his lips as he nodded. There was no reason why he should say no, nor why he should be upset by having to spend more time with this woman. The way she laughed, the way she smiled, it was genuine. The emotion lit up all her features, as if the light were shining from a place deep within her, lighting her up from the inside out. Her excitement was pure, and magical. And it was hard to find in anyone, these days. Most people were bitter or angry or had worn masks for so long that they didn’t even recognise themselves, anymore. Rikki’s happiness was infectious, and it was a welcome reprieve from the desperation and despair of the spirits that Harrison confronted on a nightly basis.

”Scotland is… well. I only really saw Glasgow...” he said, considering his audience. Did he share that he’d spent his childhood on the wrong side of the tracks? When people thought of Scotland they thought of rolling green hills and the Loch Ness Monster. They thought of kilts and redheads called Jamie. It wasn’t all that glamorous for Harrison. He cleared his throat and shrugged.

”It was nice enough if you had money, but my childhood was spend on a cement playground. All cities are the same, in so many ways,” he said with a shrug. They’d reached the train station and were lucky enough that a train going in the direction they wanted arrived only half a minute after they’d stepped foot on the platform.

”I did some things I’m not proud of, and went from the wrong side of the tracks to a jail cell. It was in that cell I found God,” he said, lifting his eyes skyward. His God lived among her stars. It was fitting. It was poetic. ”When I was released I suppose you could say I apprenticed at a church in my old neighbourhood. It was not a paradise,” he said with a smile. He could admit these things to Rikki. He had atoned, he believed himself forgiven.

”So. You’ve lived in Canada all your life, then…?” he asked, knowing she’d said she was new to town. So she certainly had not lived in Harper Rock.

[Rikki (DELETED 9657)]

It seemed she wasn't going to need to ask about Harrison's past, because he willingly told her. She had been right, in a way, that he had gotten himself into some trouble. Of course, she hadn't predicted that he had spent time incarcerated. It certainly would make for a hard life, being behind bars. And while she couldn't relate to such an experience, she could see how it might encourage someone to look at a different path for their future. It wasn't unheard of, finding religion and faith as a means of coping with the harsh realities of the system. At least, it wasn't in United States. Perhaps it was different in Scotland, for better or worse. That much, she wasn't sure she wanted to know. Despite her efforts, she couldn't picture Harrison in that circumstance, and that said a lot to her in regards to who he was now.

She was quiet as they took their seats on the train, but her attention was unwavering. In no way did she want him to feel that she was judging him for his past, or that she was no longer comfortable with him. It was simply a matter of collecting her thoughts. At last, she said, "I really appreciate that you trusted me enough to tell me about it. I don't know if it's hard for you to talk about, but I'm sure it's not your proudest moment to share." She offered him a smile, then, and pushed onward. "Isn't there an old song that says 'it isn't where you've been, but where you're going.' Something like that?" It was a small comfort, no doubt, but her way of telling him that she didn't care he had done in his past. He had already proven himself to her in different ways, and that was all that was going to matter. Until he provided a reason to think otherwise (and she doubted that he would), she would see him as the man he had shown himself to be.

The train set off and Rikki glanced out the window to see the world outside rushing by, before focusing on his question. A small frown formed and she made no attempts to hide it as she turned back to Harrison with a shake of her head. "I have lived in Canada for less than a week. I grew up in Washington D.C. in the good ol' U.S. of A..." she sighed, leaning back against the worn seat of the train car. Her gaze drifted downward to her hands in her lap, and for the second time that night, began to play with the piece of jewelry situated on her left hand ring finger. She really needed to return it, but that meant inviting Dylan to see her, and she simply wasn't ready.

The fact that Harrison had shared a deeply personal story meant he deserved the same. A dark mark on his life, for a dark mark on her own. Pulling the engagement ring from her finger, she dropped it into her palm and held it up for his inspection. "I ended up here...because...I ran out on my wedding ceremony. When I said I ran away from the altar the last time I was in a church? That's what I meant..." Rikki looked up to meet his gaze, chewing on her lower lip. Did she want to tell him why? Did it matter? It did matter to her, at least, that he not think she was simply some poor woman with cold feet, running away from the prospect of her future. "I had caught my darling fiance more than a few inches deep in his high school sweetheart at our rehearsal dinner. He still has no idea that I saw them. All he knows is that...when it came time to say 'I do,' I ran." And that was that. There was nothing else to tell when it came to her reasons for being in Harper Rock, other than the fact she had in no way planned for it be her final destination. It had just sort of happened that way.

Before he could say anything about it, she let out a short laugh. It wasn't a bitter sound, but one of disappointment. Maybe in herself, or the man she thought Dylan to be. "Which sounds really cliche, I know...but, I couldn't bare the thought of marrying a man who, clearly, had no intentions of being faith to a woman he claimed to love. And I don't regret it, nor am I heartbroken. He wasn't the man meant for me, and I can face that reality because, eventually, I'll find the one who is...and I'll be happier than he could have ever made me."

For the first time in two weeks, she let out a breath of absolute relief. All of the emotion had pooled out of her in one long speech, her chest feeling ten times lighter. Her laughter sounded between them one more time as she rubbed at her forehead, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pour my heart out all over your shoes," she said, tone light and teasing.

[Harrison]

Harrison shook his head with a small smile. It wasn’t hard for him to talk about. His whole philosophy was acceptance and forgiveness, even for the most hated of crimes—to a point, of course. If someone killed without remorse and showed no signs of ever wanting to change their ways, then of course something should be done, and they should not be forgiven. Should they seek it, however, then it would be given.

It applied to his own past, too. He had forgiven himself, and if his story dissuaded others from wanting to know him, then that was on them. He would forgive them for their lack of trust, of faith in those trying to do good. Rikki, he noticed, did not react like some might. She did not suddenly turn from him, nor did she inch away from him, as if she needed to somehow put distance between herself and this stranger who’d seen the inside of a jail cell. She accepted, she understood. She moved on.

Harrison had shrugged—he didn’t know the song, but that didn’t matter. He liked the idea of it, and agreed with the sentiment. The past was the past and was only important in that it helped people to become who they were, in that moment, in that time. Whether they had suffered or whether they had not, it didn’t matter; to be good was a choice. Harrison had made the choice to be good, to do good, and his current path reflected that choice. His future, he hoped, would be shaped by it. Rikki, by his side, seemed too pure to ever have done anything wrong, so innocent and full of life. He couldn’t fathom that she was anything but good.

When she started to tell her story, Harrison’s small smile turned into a frown. She might have run from an altar, from a supposed contract, but he did not believe that she was in the wrong. Sure, it could have been handled differently. She could have stayed, she could have confronted the man who’d spurned her in such a horrible way. But everyone dealt with their issues in different ways, and perhaps Rikki wasn’t one for confrontation.

A low whistle parted his lips as he admired the engagement ring. It was… well, big. More than he’d ever be able to afford. When she apologised for pouring her heart all over his shoes, Harrison could only laugh.

”I’m used to it,” he said, even as the train pulled in to their destination. The city was large, but not too large. It didn’t take long to get from one side of it to the other. ”You’re sure you’re not still in love with him? You were going to marry him. I’m sure that wasn’t an agreement made lightly. You are still wearing the ring…” he said. If she was still wearing it, did it mean she still had an attachment? ”I wouldn’t judge you if you were struggling. I’m not sure how any man could cheat on you, honestly, and I understand why you would not continue with the engagement. You should speak with him. Eventually you could forgive him. Forgiveness wouldn’t mean you would have to marry him, but it would take a weight from your shoulders. If there is weight on your shoulders,” he offered.

[Rikki (DELETED 9657)]

Rikki winced at the whistle, if only because she knew what it meant. The fact that Dylan's family had money was often a fact he had exploited. Only the best and brightest would do for him. And while her family was more than well off, her parents had raised them to live like they didn't. Her mother, in particular, preached humility. Their station within the ranks of the upper class did not make them any better than anyone else, and she made damn sure her children acted as such. In that sense, being in a relationship with Dylan had been trying. Where he was flash and glamor, she was modest and enjoyed the simple things. Of course, that hadn't meant she found the ring any less beautiful and extravengant when it had been presented to her.

She couldn't blame Harrison for his line of questioning, either. It had been less than a week in Harper Rock, and less than two since she ran out on the ceremony. It would only make sense for her to be caught up in those feelings, the emotions of betrayal accompanied by the loss of love. But, as she stood to exit the train with Harrison at her side, she didn't feel any of it. The betrayal had stung at the start, and she had spent that night a mess of a woman on the floor of the bathroom. Once it was all over, though, she had only felt resolved in her decision to leave. There were no second thoughts, no desire to try and work it out. Perhaps it was wrong, but it felt a little like freedom.

A small smile worked its way onto her lips at his assessment of anyone cheating on her, but did her best to hide it with a shake of her head as she moved off the train. Her steps mirrored Harrison's, as he was the one who knew where they were going, after all. The closer they got to the observatory, the lighter her steps became. She wanted to be amongst the stars, especially after a heavy conversation like this one. "I will always care about Dylan, but...no, I do not think I'm still in love with him. Sometimes, I wonder if I ever was. We were...very different, and our families had a hand in the relationship." So, their fathers had a hand in it, and their mothers played along. A political alliance, of sorts, played out with their children. And being the woman she was, she had never complained.

"I wear the ring for two reasons, though. One, I know it's safe there...and two, I think it looks wonderful on my hand," she said with a soft laugh, shifting the ring in several different directions so that the light from the street lamps refelcted off the various angles of the center diamond. The amusement soon faded as she looked to the man beside her, absently beginning to twist a section of hair around her finer. "I plan to return it to him. But, that means him coming here...and I haven't even fully made it mine, yet. I chose to settle here, and I want it to feel like...well, my home before I invite people from my past to invade it. If...that makes sense?" That probably sounded stupid, and maybe it was. Oh well.

Clearing her throat, she cant her head to the side, looking up at the preacher with the smallest hint of a smile,"What about you? Are you the kind of preacher that's married to God, or someone else? Or, I suppose...ever come close?"

[Harrison]

Harrison was a man fuelled by curiosity. Regardless of whatever might have been going on in his own life or the **** that he himself had to deal with on a daily (nightly) basis he was always far more interested in hearing about the lives of others. It was a state of mine that he had groomed himself into adopting; something he didn’t even think about anymore. It was a default that would be hard to reset. In prison, he’d used the hours of alone time in his bunk, at night or whenever, to meditate. He hadn’t needed music or special poses; he just needed to be able to close his eyes and find his own silence.

The prison was a small place and if there were spirits there that needed helping, it took him only a year or so to help them. Then they were gone, and the only faces he encountered every day were those of other humans. Hardened humans. Men, he realised, who weren’t all bad. Most of them were just men who’d made mistakes and, if they were tough, it was because life had trained them to be. It was their armour, their defence mechanism. If one got to know them, there was always something that they cared about. Something that they wanted. Something good, something pure.

Harrison had calmed in prison when most would argue that such a cage would only make a man worse. He’d found his place in the hierarchy of criminal minds and it wasn’t a bad place. Although he had not been ordained, the men left him alone. They learned to respect the change he had undertaken. Many came to him for advice; he asked the questions that no one else wanted to ask. He didn’t judge them. And he supposed that’s all they ever wanted. To be heard, rather than to be judged.

And so he listened to Rikki, now; he listened because he truly wanted to know, and in every word there was an answer in regards to her predicament, her life. Who she was, at her core. She had run not from herself, but from an establishment—that establishment was her own family.

Harrison arched a brow.

He would not think that the ring was safe on her finger, unless she twisted the diamond so that it was hidden. It might scream for her to be mugged, glinting in the light as it did. And he thought perhaps she was going to tell Harrison it dissuaded other men from hitting on her, but the answer she gave was instead much more materialistic. She liked the way it looked. He laughed, and then shrugged.

”Ooh no, I haven’t come close,” he said, thinking about it. Most women eventually understood he was ‘crazy’ and then ran for the hills. Either that or he’d tell them, and then they’d just think he was insane. He’d had flings. Not since he’d been released, however. ”I’m not married to God in the sense that I couldn’t be with a woman, if I wanted. But I do think there should be trust and sanctity in a relationship, which I had never given before,” he said, slowly. They had left the train, and he was focused on Rikki so that he wouldn’t notice – nor garner the attention – of any spirits they may pass on their way. He had his phone out, looking at the map, nudging Rikki whenever they had to turn some corner or other.

”You’re need to make this place your own makes complete sense, and I wouldn’t invite him here until you’re comfortable. Is he the kind of person who might try to persuade you to come back? What about your parents, do they know where you are?” he asked. Again, he was turning the conversation back to Rikki. He preferred it that way.

[Rikki (DELETED 9657)]

So, the preacher wasn't married, nor had he ever come close. Despite the fact that she barely knew him, the smallest hint of a satisfying flutter began in Rikki's stomach. It was the kind of reaction that a schoolgirl might have to being around her crush, just on the verge of sending that acclaimed note 'I like you, do you like me? Check one, yes or no.' Maybe it was simply due to the fact that he had reached out to her in a foreign city when she was struggling with something personal, like some kind of hero worship, and she would get over it once they went their separate ways. If that happened to be the case, then so be it, but for now she was content in the innocent infatuation with the stranger. A stranger who was becoming less and less so.

The blonde took the corners as Harrison directed, checking for street names and landmarks as they traveled. He wouldn't always be around to guide her, and the sooner she learned her way to the observatory, the better off she would be. "That's the way it should, I think. Too many seem to get lost in the notion of instant gratification, rather than building a foundation for true love to blossom..." she mused aloud, her lips pursing in consideration of her recent relationship failure. There had been a foundation there, and it had cracked. Right down the middle. Trust. The first necessary part of a relationship for Harrison. "True love. That makes me sound like a terribly hopeless romantic, doesn't it?" Her dark gaze shifted to the man with a sheepish grin, her shoulders raising up and just as quickly dropping.

Rikki didn't miss the way that the conversation seemed to shift back to her, as if Harrison wanted to avoid conversations directly related to him. And that was fine, because why should she have expected someone to talk about themselves to someone that they barely knew. Some people were private in regards to their life, and he was one of those people, then she could respect those boundaries. That wouldn't stop her from asking a question here and there, because she wanted to know more about him. At the very least, she could keep the probing at surface level, even as he pushed a little deeper. "I'm not sure if he would try to convince me to come back or not. He might, for lack of an understanding as to why I did what I did?" she replied, though it sounded more like a question than an answer to the one posed.

Rather than continue on with a discussion on Dylan, a frown took over her expression and her eyes dropped to the sidewalk, carefully stepping over cracks as if she still believed the old childhood game would break her mother's back. "My parents know that I'm alive and well, but they do not know I'm here. I know that they would try to convince me to go back. And they would tell my siblings, who would no doubt add to the pressure. For now, their ignorance is best for my sake. Selfish, I know..." she continued on, voice going soft as a surge of unwelcome emotion made its presence known by a sudden mist shining in her eyes. She missed her family, but she needed this. Finding that she craved a sense of comfort, her steps lead her to walk just a little closer to the preacher while still keeping enough distance to avoid accidentally touching him.

It was then that the University came into view, and she knew that they had reached the destination that housed the wonderful instrument she sought. Eyes finding the night sky, most of the clouds had cleared and the dimness of the city lights this far out made the stars shine just a little brighter. Taking a quick spin around, she surveyed the stars that she could make out, searching for something in particular. Giving no indication to her present company that she had found it, she righted herself once more as they made their way onto campus and through the courtyard. It was not surprising the the campus was huge with the occasional student passing by. It had been years since she had spent any particular amount of time on a college campus like this one, and it brought on a wave of nostalgia. "Hey, I just realized...I never thanked you for showing me here. For taking time out of your night to show me around. So...thank you. It means a lot." The same unhindered smile returned to her lips, because she was that much closer, and she even had someone to share it with. And even if he wasn't at all interested, he had at least pretended to be. That was enough.

[Harrison]

Harrison hadn’t thought much about romance or true love. Before jail he’d been too distracted and love never entered the equation. In jail, he’d of course missed the physical touch of a woman but he had found study to keep himself preoccupied. After he’d got out, he’d been too focused on furthering that study and, here, on helping the dead occupants of the city. He himself was one of them, of a fashion, and he didn’t know how that worked in regards to ‘true love’. It would certainly be difficult if he were to fall for a human, or vice versa, would it not? The notion had him considering Rikki in a new light, but he’d laughed and negated her self-mockery. There was nothing wrong with being a hopeless romantic, if that’s what one wanted to be.

To Harrison’s trained eyes it looked as if Rikki were more broken up about leaving her parents than about the fiancé she’d left at the alter; he could surmise then that the ring she still wore wasn’t still snug against the base of her finger because she had hope that the marriage might still happen and work out. Family, for the preacher, had never been a huge deal but he could understand Rikki’s grief. He wanted to reach out and squeeze her shoulder, to take her hand and look her in the eye to tell her that it wouldn’t be forever. They were not dead, and there would always be time for reconciliation. But he respected that they were perhaps not yet familiar enough for such tender touches and instead kept his hands to himself.

And then she brightened, her sadness replaced by a buoyancy that was endearing. Harrison kept his focus on the woman at his side rather than on anything around them; now that they had reached their destination, he had no idea where to go. He supposed they could follow the signs. Or perhaps Rikki would be drawn to the structure like a moth to a flame, always knowing where the instruments of her passion were hidden. Harrison smiled.

”It is my pleasure,” he said. It was a regular saying, trite, even. But he meant it. It really was his pleasure; the night was turning out to be more enjoyable that he had planned.

”And—it’s not selfish if your parents know that you’re safe. Keep in touch. In my experience parents just want what’s best for their children so if they love you, they’ll understand,” he said. Only now did he look around; there were a few students still wandering to class or from class, or maybe they’d just pulled all night study sessions. But even though they looked solid with their books in hand and bags slung over their shoulders, Harrison couldn’t always be sure. Better to be safe than sorry.

”Maybe we should ask someone where the observatory is?” he suggested. Rikki could ask, then, and he wouldn’t risk talking to thin air in front of her. Maybe there was a map online of the campus itself, but sometimes it was better just to ask.

[Rikki (DELETED 9657)]

Where Rikki saw only the selfishness of her actions by refusing to tell them her location, Harrison provided an easy enough to solution to keep all parties involved happy. At least, in some sense. Even if she never told them where she was, she had every intention of keeping in touch with those she loved. Leaving her family behind was possibly the hardest thing she had ever done, and it was impossible to think that she could one day cut them off. The fallout for her decision would circulate for a while, that much was for sure, and it would be up to the Kane family to handle it. While she had run away from facing that reality, she had left them there to pick up the pieces. That was the thing about the Kanes, though. They could handle it. "I suppose you're right. It might not be tonight, or tomorrow...but, eventually, they'll understand," she agreed, slowly nodding in agreement. "I know they love me, after all. Even if they do believe they know what's best for their children better than we do." And one day...one day, maybe she would go back there. But, for now, Harper Rock would be her home, and she had to make the best of it.

Starting with finding this observatory.

A suggestion of seeking directions brought her to a halt, turning to the male with firm nod. Clearly, one of them was capable of thinking with a clear mind when in such close proximity to the structure she was so desperately desired to find. "I think I could handle that. I never did have much of a problem when it came to asking for direction..." she said, trailing off in the teasing tone as if to suggest that Harrison avoided it himself for the sake of male ego. Rikki didn't honestly believe that, but it was fun to joke about all the same. Her gaze left him to scan the immediate area to find the nearest group of students; a mixed bunch cutting through courtyard, laden with books, but smiles all the same. Without hesitation, she reached out of Harrison's hand as a means of encouraging him to follow her, but she made no moves to release it as they approached the group.

"Excuse us for interrupting, but we're looking for the campus observatory. Is it possible one of you could point us in the right direction?" she asked of the group, resisting to sigh at the momentarily blank stares that they passed around. Only after the initial surprise at being stopped and asked for directions, one of the students spoke up, offering directions and a vague gesture toward the building that they were apparently looking for. And they weren't even that far! Rikki offered a quick 'Thank you, very much!' before quickly disengaging from the group to head off toward their destination, checking signs as they went to ensure that they were still headed the right way. West Campus; behind the library, and nearby the dance studio. Groom...Groom... she repeated to herself in her head, oddly silent for the first time almost the whole trip there. But, she had a goal to accomplish.

When the large rounded dome of the observatory broke through a series of trees, the woman practically squealed with excitement, but managed to reign it in so that it sounded a bit more like a barely contained gasp. "We're here!"

As she moved to clap her hands together in both excitement and contentment, she finally realized she had never released that hold on the man's hand. Heat flooded her cheeks, leaving a less than subtle red hue as proof of her embarrassment. "Oh! I'm sorry, I...didn't even notice..." she attempted to explain, only to fall quiet and shake her head as if there was no excuse. There really wasn't one. "Uh, shall we...go inside, then?" she asked with a nervous laugh, taking a step in the direction of the building for two reasons; to get that much closer to the observatory, and put a bit of distance between them.

[Harrison]

Harrison was happy to allow Rikki to tease him; he didn’t defend himself, nor give any excuse as to why he himself did not ask for directions and why he suggested that she do so instead. It was not within the minister’s nature to lie, even a white lie to cover up a something considerably insane. One small lie could lead to other smaller lies, then larger lies, until the situation got out of hand. No, for now he could just be the man content to suggest asking for directions but too proud to ask for them himself.

When her fingers slipped into his, her flesh hot against his cooler palm, he didn’t resist. After spending so much of his time communicating with the dead, with those body-less forms that clung to life as mere ghosts of their former selves, he was glad to feel the solid company of someone living. It did not start as an intimate gesture; he could see it for what it was. A way for him to follow. Rikki had reached her destination, however, and still did not release him. This surprised Harrison, but still he did not resist. Instead, he tightened his hold, quiet as he wandered along beside Rikki as she sought their destination like a hound on the hunt for the elusive rabbit.

It was only when they got to the observatory that she realised what she’d done, dropping Harrison’s hand like a hot potato and stepping away from him. He could almost feel the heat from her cheeks and he laughed, quick to follow her, to close the distance she was so intent on putting between them. He swivelled on his heel and slipped his fingers under her palm. Bold, perhaps. Far too confident, but he didn’t think he was wrong in assuming…

… what did he assume? Didn’t matter.

He lifted her knuckles to his lips and the kiss he deposited was light, feather soft. Subtle. ”No need to apologise. It’s been a while since I’ve held anyone’s hand,” he said. He kept his hold as he took the few steps up to the observatory’s entrance and pushed through the door. There was someone behind the administration counter, dimly illuminated. They looked official. The light didn’t go through them. Harrison hesitated, before concluding that the person was real, and was not a spirit.

”Hello,” he greeted them. ”Is the observatory still open? Can we… have a look around?” he asked. The girl behind the desk glanced up at the clock to her left.

”We’re open to the public for another hour. After that you have to be a student or have a pass,” she said. That was enough, even though Harrison considered asking how one might go about getting a pass – for Rikki’s sake. But he did not want to overstep his boundaries.