An American, George Lawton, was in London on business in 1914 when he detoured to meet his old friend, Paul Bixby, in York. Lawton had never been, but he was keen to see the city’s famous cathedral. As Bixby led Lawton through the winding streets, he noticed Lawton behaving aloofly and distractedly.
“What’s the matter?” he asked. Lawton couldn’t quite say, beyond having a profound sense of déjà vu. Everything around him seemed so familiar, as if he had been to York before and knew it like the back of his hand. In fact, as he was explaining this to his friend, he admitted that he could probably lead the way to the cathedral. Bixby chuckled.
He doubted that would be possible; the streets were too winding and confusing. Lawton pressed on, leading the way. Bixby was at first amused but soon grew awestruck as his American friend, unfamiliar with York, was outpacing him with a surefooted stride until they reached the west entrance to the Cathedral. Breathlessly, Bixby caught up and congratulated Lawton on his uncanny navigation of these unfamiliar streets.
Lawton, however, wasn’t quite listening. Again, he was distracted, peering past the cathedral to a vacant lot. “What happened to the inn that used to be on that corner?” “There never was one,” Bixby replied. “Not that I can recall.” Later that day, in the local library, the pair poured over an old map of York.
Locating the cathedral, they scanned over to the location of the vacant lot and were both astonished to discover a small notation in faded script: Site of the Golden Ox, a famous old inn destroyed in 1648. Had George Lawton, indeed, been to York before? In another life? As the mystery deepened, George and Bixby couldn’t help but feel a sense of intrigue and curiosity. The notion of a past life or some unexplained connection to this ancient city fascinated them both.
Determined to unravel the enigma, they embarked on a quest to uncover more about the Golden Ox Inn and its destruction. Their search led them to dusty archives, where they meticulously combed through records and manuscripts, hoping to find any mention of George Lawton or the inn’s demise. Days turned into weeks, but their perseverance remained unwavering, fueled by a shared belief that there was a hidden truth waiting to be discovered.
As they delved deeper into the archives, they stumbled upon a faded diary entry that hinted at a mysterious fire that consumed the Golden Ox Inn. Excitement surged through their veins, knowing they were on the brink of unraveling a centuries-old secret. With renewed determination, they vowed to leave no stone unturned in their quest for answers, ready to face whatever truths awaited them.