Day Five Hundred Ninety #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

No one liked the look of the sky today as we set sail.  It was dark and menacing.

Mr. Kagi haunted the bridge, hovering over each and every decision made by either the Captain or Tomas. And almost precipitated an incident by his insistence that we ignore a directive from the warship to halt.

The Captain sensibly put him in his place.

Thus, we received aboard three more passengers- two guards and their charge, the Raj twin P. We are to deliver them with our cargo.

Thankfully P is not being held under close arrest. So Elijah and I will be allowed to meet with him as long as at least one guard is present.

We will take every opportunity.

Day Five Hundred Eighty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Though the port authorities signed off on our proposal, we did have one more hurdle to overcome. The commander of the warship, as the senior representative of the global government at this location, needed to grant his permission.

He kept us on tenterhooks all morning as he mulled over his decision. At last it came in the affirmative, with one proviso – we must carry some supplies for their ships at our next port.

The Captain agreed, and was happy to, as that meant taking on less ballast for the voyage.

Later, upon observing two containers being lashed to the deck rather than placed in the hold, I remarked to Elijah that it appeared we would be resupplying that robotic warship.

Day Five Hundred Eighty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We have a solution to our quandary.

In our trip ashore last night we were able to track down Mr. Kagi and proposed a deal. We offered to sell the ship to him for an amount equal to the price of the transport of his goods and himself to the mainland port. He agreed.

This we brought back to the Captain. He and Mr. Kagi met this morning and after setting terms for the split of monies due after delivering the vessel, they consummated the deal.

They then both appeared before the port authorities. They were at first reticent, but Mr. Kagi’s status with the world government is such that his requests can not be refused.

We are all pleased.

Day Five Hundred Eighty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Complaints were lodged with the authorities against Elijah and myself by someone or “someones” with whom we talked yesterday. They claimed that we attempted to seduce people away from fealty to Stan and the world order. And made even wilder accusations that we were kidnappers.

This hubbub has made the Captain’s negotiations regarding the ship all the more difficult. He’ll go back tomorrow after they have  some time to calm down.

Then there were some consequences. He has confined us to the ship for the immediate future.

Elijah was compliant for the space of an hour, before deciding to go ashore by himself. I prevailed upon him to go to the Captain with his plan.

He relented and we went.

Day Five Hundred Eighty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It was the same warship that loomed over us at the last port. Manned, not robotic. They brought instructions for how our ship is to be handed over.

The port authority briefed our Captain this morning. We are to sail to the mainland, the gateway to the East, and turn the vessel over to the global transport service, based there.

Elijah is elated. He says it is exactly where we need to be next.

However the Captain thinks we won’t be able to go right away. He refuses to make the trip without shipments, and currently there are none from this port. And then there’s the matter of our trading without the mark.

It may be the final stumbling block.

Day Five Hundred Eighty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah and I wandered around the port today trying to converse with people. I noted a higher than usual distrust toward strangers.

In a couple of instances Elijah was able to penetrate their defenses and gain an understanding of their predicament.

After the time of the Glorious Appearing a great many people  on this island disappeared. (We know what happened. They don’t.) Those left moved into the vacant properties and businesses, and are plagued by the notion that the rightful owners could return at any time.

We tried to explain the truth, but that made them all the more fearful.

All this was forgotten upon our return to ship at the sight of a warship tied up next to us.

Day Five Hundred Eighty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The crew is restive, in part due to idleness, as all the cargo has been unloaded and for the other part, dwelling on the uncertainty of their future.

Two men from the engine room were listed as overdue from their shore leave. But they should be back for the Captain has decided not to pay off the crew until he knows our final disposition. There is the possibility that we will be sent somewhere else for the handover.

Elijah and I helped Mr. Kagi settle his affairs and set up in a nearby residence. He is unsure what he wants to do next. He has let it be known that he would be willing to ship out with us again.

Day Five Hundred Eighty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Another surprise has surfaced after the Captain broached the topic of the global transport service. The port authority here has not even heard of it, and were at a loss how to advise him what he should do next. They promised to look into the problem.

So we may be here well after the unloading is finished.

The Captain handed the payments to Tomas for research.

He was astonished to discover that the monies were due Mr. Kagi.

Tomas informed the Captain, who turned the funds over to our passenger with an explanation. Mr. Kagi was bowled over. And greatly amused. For he was sure it all would have been confiscated by Stan in his take over of the islands.

Day Five Hundred Eighty Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We raised our next port of call mid-afternoon. It sits on a bay on the central island of another archipelago.

Neither the robotic warship nor any other ship of the global authority questioned our entry.

Our passenger kept to himself. Elijah tried to draw him out on two occasions to limited success. He thinks Mr. Kagi is cowed by fear of the future.

We’ve been welcomed cordially by the port authorities. Our wait will be minimal before unloading commences.

There have been some unlooked for developments. They report that the robotic warship had been here and will be returning. A packet had been left for us containing payment for the materials we had left at the tsunami stricken island.

Day Five Hundred Eighty One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The Captain did not entertain for a moment Mr. Kagi’s proposal. He politely turned him down.

Elijah and I were present and afterwards congratulated him upon his principled stance. To have decided otherwise in my estimation would have been a serious misstep. Elijah added that it is imperative we wait for the path the Spirit would open for us.

This morning the Captain tasked Tomas and myself with keeping tabs on our passenger with an eye to stave off any provocation.  He sees the distinct possibility of his gaining a sympathetic ear among certain elements of the crew.

This shouldn’t be a concern for long, as we should arrive at our destination tomorrow.

Will the robotic warship greet us there?