Day Eight Hundred Eighty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I worked on the damaged drone all day. I isolated the problems and gave a list of parts to Jezer when he returned from the hiding place.

He promised to have what I need sometime overnight.

Meanwhile Meesa made some calculations and came up with a deadline for us. We need to have everyone out by the day after tomorrow. We will time it to the morning exodus for scrap recovery.

Elijah held up by himself in his new favorite spot – a tiny, little garden, set in the courtyard of the residence Meesa shares with us.

He has chosen to fast until further notice. And to prepare himself for another round of meetings late tonight.

No sleep for me either.

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Day Eight Hundred Sixty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

During the daylight hours, the constant din of construction assails our ears. I find myself longing for the relative quiet of the night.

Jezer welcomes the noise. To him it means, that for the time being, the authorities have chosen to ignore the goings on in this quarter, one in which can be found a multitude of those not bearing the mark.

As to himself he is currently basking in plenty, having sold off all his camels. And is contemplating his next investment.

I just hope we do not end up part of his calculations.

Meesa has praised him to Elijah and said his aid has been pivotal to the needy in this quarter. We passed the afternoon with her.

Day Five Hundred Seventy #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The Captain has made another course correction. I was with him when he sent the order down. He was excited to show me the chart with his calculations on it.

There was a line representing our track, a bulge into the open sea, far from any indication of land. Now pointed like an arrow at an archipelago.

When I pointed to a column of figures scribbled beside the pencil track, the Captain summed it up with three words, “Two days away.”

And just like that pencil track amidst the empty space on the map, so has been the ocean surrounding us, devoid of any vessels.

And the Captain has decided to triple the lookouts. Only Elijah and I are excused.

Day Four Hundred Twenty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We have not seen anyone else on the road, in either direction, since we left the river yesterday. Judging by the calculations of the former merchant from the port city we still have three days to go.

Elijah tells me that the Purser had given him a message to relay to the Captain. A resignation – and an apology for doing so. Elijah raised an eyebrow to me at the finish of this information. I caught his gist and agreed to offer to take on the position if acceptable to the Captain.

My mind was filled afterwards with thoughts of what I would do as a ship’s purser – things that I learned from watching him, and things from my own experience.