Enoch writes:
We are on our way.
Much earlier than planned, as we no longer believe that Elijah will be returning to the country home with the Purser.
The children are helpful, eager in fact, to shoulder their small portion of our belongings.
Mary looks back at the burning sky behind us and worries. I assure her in the strongest terms that her husband and Elijah are safe and most likely at sea. I can feel it in my bones.
The Captain was concerned about the narrowing gap ahead between the bloody morasses on both sides of us. Elijah pointed out that the gap is narrower behind us, and indeed has closed off at a couple points.
We are committed now. The Captain has ordered both vessels to full speed ahead.
Some time in the afternoon we came upon the missing lifeboat from the grain ship. The Purser wanted us to close and investigate, but the Captain denied that notion. Timing is too crucial.
When still a ways off we could see nothing but birds on that craft. As we passed near by our wake rocked it, setting the birds to flight, revealing the picked clean bones of three men.
Unseasonably warm today. It felt good to these old bones. Lyle welcomed the change also. Neither of us wanted to budge from camp all morning long.
Lyle finally went fishing. I decided to put my drone up and take a look around.
Both of us came away empty-handed. He wanted to keep at it until he caught a fish. But I countered with the fact that we appear to be further away than we intended. None of the villages that we wanted to check were in view.
This alarmed Lyle. Then I alarmed him more when I added that we will have to return the way we came as the drone showed no other egress.
We shall leave tomorrow.
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