Day One Thousand Fifty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah and I went for a walk. First up to the heights to look around. Elijah scanned the view, paying attention to the road that runs to the East.

We then came down and struck out in the direction upon which we had mutually agreed. As we climbed away from the redoubt, I noticed Elijah was making heavy use of his staff. We stopped frequently so he could catch his breath.

Cresting the ridge and descending the other side, he picked up the pace. We halted on a stone bridge that spanned a dry stream bed.

One look at a path that ran beside the stream bed and we knew we had found the way to the plain far below.

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Day Nine Hundred Twenty Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Quasimo and I made short work of completing the new drone. Then Elijah and I sent him off to rejoin Jezer to take up the search again.

We then had a brief respite to catch our breath before the next demand on our attention.

When it came, I shouldered it myself as Elijah had sequestered himself with the intercessors in their labors.

A dispute had erupted between members of Quasimo’s group and a few from that led by Mei over the distribution of the daily allowance. Unable to locate Mei, Meesa stepped in to help defuse the tempers. After Mei surfaced, a solution was quickly reached, and consequently the women announced their decision to administer rather than join the search.

Day Six Hundred Seventy Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Of course I had lots of questions for Elijah. But he would not answer any of them. He said we needed to save our breath.

We headed north on the far side of the river course and walked all night. I kept my peace and my questions to myself.

We took a roundabout route to the place he had stashed the Captain and Tomas.

With the new day came a new excuse about answering my questions. Elijah thought it best to wait until we rejoined our friends.  He didn’t want to retell it over and over.

They had seen the aerial display as it happened and asked my burning question – why not destroy the army too?

His answer – “Not yet.”

Day Five Hundred Eighteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

A whirlwind of happenings since yesterday. I’ve hardly had the time to sit down and consider it all. And I’m not sure I will have the time to put it all down. So I’ll have to keep to those things of the most importance.

We had a magnificent reunion.

The crew is all hale and hearty and little changed since last we saw them.

And Tomas declared he was more glad to see me than I him. (I think he is counting on me to take up the Purser’s office again).

We’ll leave that for a future discussion.

We were no sooner settled than the ship was unmoored and taken into dry dock.

We may catch our breath by tomorrow.

Day One Hundred Eighty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

All await the ultimatum. It’s dependent, of course, upon when Moglen and the others discover their latest gambit has collapsed. In the opinion of most, it has already occurred. Four drones instead of the usual two buzzed the encampment and spread out from there.

Lyle called a meeting of his leaders, but even more people came. Hardly anyone reported to the fields. Everyone wanted assurance. Not just for the future. But for their next breath.

Lyle was the calm in the center of the storm. He directed their focus to where it should be.

Afterwards we went off together. I asked him what we were going to tell Moglen when he asks to speak to Flowers.

“The truth, of course.”