Page 34A new view

Unfortunately I didn't have all the time in the world to get the manual, look through it and find out what this thing could do. Despite not being a gadget freak as such, I still loved exploring any- and everything I could get my hands on. Usually that meant either books or buildings, but sometimes it was of a more technical nature.

"These are new 3D goggles. Practice with them. Tomorrow night we expect you in the same place a the same time."

The docks, one o'clock.

Before I could answer, confirm or deny, she'd hung up and left me standing there. On a roof. On a high building. With a new toy.

While I was very eager to put them on, I took two precautions. I looked at the phone and opened the battery compartment. There was a small note in it with a simple code. Good, at least I could turn the damn thing off now. I memorized the code, turned the phone off and put it in my backpack. I tried to put the goggles, charger and manual in there as well, which fit just fine if I was a little inventive. Though the manual, not too thick, had to be rolled up. It occurred to me it was probably a minimal or custom manual.

The case however was not as easily put away. Maybe I could fasten it to my backpack on the climb down. It didn't feel right to leave it here. But, first to try it out.

I retrieved the goggles back from the backpack and looked at them closely to see any obvious switches or such on it. It looked fairly self-explanatory. Protective covers, intensity wheel and an on/off switch. Part of me wondered if it would even be of any use to me. My eyes were already impressively good in the dark. Even practically full darkness was no problem for me.

I put them on, noticed that I still had the covers on the lenses, removed those and put them on again. Blue shades. Why not green? Well, I like blue anyway, so that wasn't a problem. There was something off about it though. Rather than intensifying the light, something else was going on. When I looked around, colors went from black to blue, to green.

Then the penny dropped.

These were infra-red goggles!

I confirmed it when I looked at myself. Yellow to red to white. If I moved fast there was even a bit of after effect with warm air coming off me. And best of all, because it consisted of two camera's instead of one, it was almost fully 3D (as the angles were fixed, it did take some getting used to). I was tempted to climb off the building with them, just to test them out and to be able to look at everything like this. It was like having new eyes.

New, slightly pixellated, eyes.

Climbing down was suddenly very different, even ignoring the odd weight of the case on my back. Though the cable itself was as cold as the air, the stones varied in temperature, supposedly with air-conditioning ducts or rooms being behind them. I could almost see the inner walls with this if I focused enough. Sadly, the resolution and color contrast of them wasn't too impressive.

But I'm not one to scorn at a gift. Especially not one that I was certainly enjoying quite a bit. Though it did raise a couple of questions with me. Besides the fact that this was obviously set up for some goal, you didn't just give someone a present such as this. It must have been really expensive, or someone had to be pretty amazing at electronics to make this. It was so sleek and simple, yet so powerful.

I was glad to see a very faint compass on it, that would come in handy at later times. It was a shame that I wouldn't be able to wear this thing int he city with anyone else nearby. It was conspicuous enough to go around with sunglasses, let alone goggles like these. Slim though they were, they did stick out a bit. So, not to be worn in public then. It had me curious what they would be used for tomorrow.

The goggles had a lot of various interesting uses. Like finding out which cars were last used, as the engine and the hood was still marginally warmer than the others. Or if a guy was standing just around the corner of a wall. It was hard to see, but still there. Still, I wouldn't want them on my eyes forever though. Colors, even in the dark, are a beautiful part of the world. The goggles simply couldn't do them justice.

When I was all the way down, I put the goggles, with the lens caps, back in my backpack. The case, only containing the protective foam that had held the goggles, was once again in my hands. It was only a little harder to get over the fence with them, but a jump was as good as a climb and soon I was out of there.

There was quite some time left before daylight, which I thought I might spend on using the glasses more. Ideally somewhere with people but where I could stand, and spy, freely. The square with the bars would be interesting, but I'd have to find some kind of hiding place.

And what to do with the case? It was a very nice case, as such, but I didn't just want to drag it with me all the time, or leave it at the Cathedral. Perhaps I could leave it in the locker at work. But would that be a good solution? It would also be the second day in a row that I asked to leave early... ish.

I headed for the square and looked around, fortunately there was a couple of buildings with alleys behind them. The roofs of those were free of life, cameras and light. Up there I could just put on the goggles and spy on the many busy bars below.

I felt so giddy with excitement!

Finally I was a professional! Sort of.

Who would I be to deny Amy her dreams. Well, maybe her voice of conscience. Although, that would be a bit too arrogant of me.