On my way out of the Helsinki cathedral, where I took two quick photographs of the pale-blue interior, I saw a dying man sitting alone in the last row: his cheeks bloodless, emaciated, his eyes sunk and his hair thinned by illness, he craned his crooked neck upward, upward. Like a bird aching to leave the cramped nest. In a day or two he will be rewarded for his labors.

Addendum I (December 27, 1989)

On the New Year’s day I will fly to Helsinki and stay there for nearly a week. I have been invited to give two lectures on real property management to the executives of a Finnish conglomerate and its construction subsidiary. I look forward to this trip because I have become very fond of Finnish people. This time there is an additional reason for my excitement: as soon as I arrive I will go to the Helsinki cathedral. Perhaps I will find him there?!

Addendum II (January 9, 1990)

My schedule turned out not to permit even the briefest of visits to the Helsinki cathedral or any other place. Whenever I had a scrap of free time I had to rest in preparation for the next event on the agenda. Jetlagged as I was, I needed plenty of rest, too. Nevertheless, I now feel guilty because I have failed to keep my promise to the dying man. No matter how soon I may return to Helsinki, it may be too late.