Chapter 7 Chapter VII

On the evening of November 19th, Canon Pennyfather had an early dinner at the "Temple of Athena," greeted a friend or two, and discussed some key issues of dating the Dead Sea documents. A lighthearted but intense discussion.Now, glancing at his watch, he saw that it was time for him to leave for his plane to Lucerne.As he walked through the hall, he was greeted by another friend, Dr. Whitaker of SOAS.He said happily: "Hello, Father Penny. Haven't seen you for a long time. How's the meeting going? Anything interesting?" "I believe there will be." "You just came back from a meeting, didn't you?"

"No, no, I'm only going now. I'm on a flight tonight." "Oh, I see." Whitaker looked a little puzzled, "I thought the meeting was held today." "No, no, tomorrow, the nineteenth." Canon Pennyfather went out through the gate, while his friend looked after him and said: "But my old man, today is the nineteenth, isn't it?" However, Canon Pennyfather had gone too far to hear him.He hailed a taxi at the Hoop and rushed to Kensington Airport.There are quite a few people tonight.He stood at the counter for a long time before finally it was his turn.He struggled to produce his plane ticket, passport and other documents necessary for the trip.The lady behind the counter was about to stamp these documents when she suddenly stopped.

"I'm sorry, sir, but the ticket doesn't seem right." "Wrong ticket? No, no, quite right, the hundredth to Lucerne... Well, without my glasses I can't quite read...a hundred or so flights. ... "It's the wrong date, sir. It's Wednesday the eighteenth." "No, no, definitely. At least . . . I mean . . . it's Wednesday the eighteenth." "I'm sorry, sir. Today is the nineteenth." "Number nineteen!" said Mr. Canon despondently.He took out a small diary, flipped through it eagerly, and finally he had to believe: today is the nineteenth.The plane he was catching left yesterday.

"So, that means... that means... God, that means that the Lucerne meeting has been held today." He stared despondently across the counter, but there were many other travelers, and Mr. Canon was pushed aside with his confusion.He stood mournfully, holding the canceled ticket in his hand.He speculated about various possibilities.Maybe his ticket was changed?But it doesn't help - not at all.What time is it now?Is it almost nine o'clock?The meeting started at ten o'clock sharp this morning, and it must have been over by now.Of course, that's what Whittaker meant when he said that in "The Temple of Athena."He thought Canon Pennyfather had been at the meeting.

"Oh, my God," said Canon Pennyfather to himself, "look what a mess I've made of this!" He walked sadly, silently, and aimlessly up Cromwell Street — a sad place. He was walking slowly down the street, bag in hand, with confusing thoughts in his mind.He shook his head sadly when he finally dissected with some satisfaction the various causes of the mistakes he had made during the day. "Now, I think," he said to himself, "I think—let me see, it's past nine, yes, I think I'd better have something to eat." Strange, he thought, that he didn't feel hungry.

He walked aimlessly on the Cromwell Road, overwhelmed with grief.Finally he stopped at a small restaurant that sold Indian curries.He figured that even though he wasn't as hungry as he should be, he'd better have a meal to lift his spirits, and then he'd have to find a hotel - oh no, there was no need for that.He has a hotel!no doubt.He was at present staying at Bertram's Hotel, and he had four nights booked.What luck!What a marvelous piece of luck!So his room was there waiting for him.All he had to do was ask for his key at the service desk... and then he remembered one more thing: what was that heavy thing in his pocket?

He reached in and took out a large, heavy key.Hotels make room keys like this to prevent unwary guests from pocketing them.But that didn't stop Mr Canon from doing it! "Number Nineteen," said Mr. Canon, very pleased with the realization. "Exactly. I was lucky I didn't go looking for a room in the hotel. It is said that the hotel is very crowded at the moment. Yes, that's what Edmunds said tonight at the 'Temple of Athena'. He managed to find a room." Found a room." He was satisfied with himself, with the care with which he had arranged the trip for himself—he had booked a hotel in advance.So Mr. Canon quit his curry, paid for it, and strode out into Cromwell Road again.

It seemed a little dismal to go back in this way, for he was supposed to be having dinner in Lucerne, talking about all kinds of interesting and fascinating things.His eyes were drawn to a movie theater. "Walls of Jericho", the title seems very appropriate.It will be interesting to see if it is completely faithful to the story in the Bible. He bought himself a ticket and stumbled into the darkness.He liked the movie even though he felt it had nothing to do with the biblical story in any way.It seemed even Joshua had been left out.The Wall of Jericho seems to be just a symbol, referring to a lady's wedding vows.When these walls come down a few times, the beautiful heroine meets the stern, brusque hero she has always had a crush on.After discussion, the two of them suggested that the walls be rebuilt so that they could better stand the test of time.The film wasn't designed to appeal to an elderly priest, but Father Canon Penney loved it.

It wasn't the kind of film he was used to watching, and he felt it had given him a better understanding of life.When the film was over, the lights went up, the national anthem sang, and Canon Pennyfather stumbled out into the bright London night again.He was beginning to recover from the grief of the unfortunate incident earlier in the evening. The night was fine, so he walked back to Bertram's Hotel.At first he wanted to take the bus, but he took the wrong direction.It was midnight when he entered.Bertram's Hotel at midnight always had the proper look of being in bed.The elevator was on a higher floor, so Mr. Canon walked up the stairs.He came to his room, put the key in the lock, opened the door and entered the room...

God!What did he see?But who... how... it was too late when he saw that arm raised high... Bits of gold exploded in his head like a firework display...