A little help

The Medway hotel was nigh on impossible to track down. An internet search on my phone gave no results in the London area; even using the elastic boundary technique of some (where they consider Bromley and Gatwick to be London parishes) there was no luck. The closest two taxi ranks, which are normally filled with topographical gold nuggets of information drew a blank as did the main post office. I was beginning to wish I had followed Xanthic's original plan and left him to do the running around.

I sat down on cold grey steps leading up to a tall building and sank low into myself feeling the exhaustion descend.

"Can I help you?" A kindly male voice came from behind me.

I didn't look round but said "No, only if you know where the place is." I held out the torn piece of paper with the Medway Hotel heading.

"Castle Road. Probably about three miles from here."

I was on my feet instantaneously, there was an elderly slim man in a black shirt and dog collar standing on the steps of an impressively constructed church of old school gothic architecture.

"You know this place? How do you know where it is?"

"No, I do not. But the address is printed along the bottom of the page. Pity it's ripped or it might have given a post code and I'll have looked it up in my sat-nav."

I snatched the paper back from his hand. "Sorry Father." I added realising what I had done. "Castle road. Why didn't I see this? Thanks Father, you are a God-send!" And I tore off towards the nearest taxi.