Two elders sat on opposite sides of a table in a cold back room on November 5th. It was 11:57. The muffled sound of fireworks could be heard.
On the table was a box. The eyes of both men were fixed on the wall clock, following the second hand as it ticked round.
One said, 'Is it time yet?'.
'No!' replied the other, 'not yet.' It was now 11:58. They sat, while a variety of crackles, whooshes and bangs continued to penetrate the building.
Both men looked at the box, looked at each other, looked back at the clock. It was 11:59 and 30 seconds.
The elders shuffled their chairs a little closer. And now there were just 15 seconds to go.
Then something unexpected happened. The clock stopped at 11:59 and 59 seconds.
The men looked at each other in confusion, looked at the box, looked back at the clock. The second hand had not moved. But the noise from outside was getting louder. And louder.