artifact-recovery

In the chapter "Preamble," the narrator and a small group including Carruthers, a new recruit, Mr. Spivens, and a verger, search through the ruins of Coventry Cathedral for the missing bishop's bird stump amidst the aftermath of wartime bombing. They navigate the destruction, deal with suspicion from the verger about their identities, and discuss the challenges of time travel attempts to reach the correct date. The narrator also recounts efforts to locate the artifact through jumble sales, highlighting the difficulties and absurdities involved in the search.