Day One Thousand Forty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It has become evident that the army patrol from the checkpoint is not on a routine sweep. Otherwise they would have turned back with the onset of night.

I can only think that since we sometimes have them in view, they must likewise see us, despite our conscious efforts to shield our movements.

Thankfully they show no signs of gaining on us. Elijah quickened his pace during those times when we were blocked from view. With the result that the time between sightings lengthened.

And in one of these blind troughs we headed away from our destination, and we hoped from our pursuers too.

That’s when we ran into the man who had accosted us down on the main road.

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Day Nine Hundred Sixty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Reuben and his guards kept vigil under the stars last night. And talked through any and all options that did not include retracing our steps.

The stars shone bright in their courses, but the lights from the traffic were brighter still. At least, they were when I turned in.

All had changed by the time I got up. The checkpoint was gone. Along with the traffic.

Reuben told me that beginning at midnight onwards the traffic was all towards Damascus. And the elements of the checkpoint joined in as the last of the column went through.

Having no one or nothing to impede our progress, we reached the hiding place by evening.

They received us with open arms and hearts.

Day Nine Hundred Sixty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We have arrived at an impasse. A major checkpoint blocks our progress, with too much activity swelling the roadway in both directions.

We were considering sending a small group of Reuben’s men forward to test whether or not we could make it across in small sections. But I noticed that a patrol coming from the other side was stopped and questioned. Evidently they did not possess the right orders or papers for they were sent back from whence they came.

The whole process of checking papers must be what is slowing the traffic.

Then it occurred to Reuben that perhaps word is out about the prison escape. Hearing this, Elijah paused, but then said, “No, something else is at play.”