Day One Thousand Thirty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We went out with the morning work force. Elijah wanted to look about those debris fields again.

Some other groups coming up from the valley, left the road and mingled with those from the slave quarter. Filthy rags hung on their emaciated frames. They attempted to shoulder their way among the workers from the city. It was obvious they desired to gain access to the slave quarter but in their weakened state they were easily forced away.

They looked pitiful, yet cunning, as they slunk back down the road.

Who knows what they would be capable of given the strength and the chance to wield it.

And for that matter, those opposing them were little better.

Things are spiraling downward.

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Day One Thousand Thirty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah and I isolated ourselves today as best we could to seek guidance from the Spirit as to our next move.

His pupils, on his order have gone without the city to a place where they can do the same.

Elam had shared that the frequency of his trips has dropped in half. And he has heard rumors that what is coming in is being redirected to the fields around Babylon. Fields elsewhere are drying up at an alarming rate.

Elijah’s pupils down from the north echoed these facts, and talked of a schedule for towns to be cut off of supply.

And Tomas reported through them that all army units at the outposts were being removed and ordered elsewhere.

Day One Thousand Thirty Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We made the rounds with Elijah’s pupils loading up on scrap metal and returning early to the city. I could not help but notice that the scrap heaps were less extensive and may well soon be depleted. And then what will become of those in the slave quarter of the city?

The pupils had met with both Tomas and Jezer some time ago, but don’t know their current whereabouts. They had passed them off to the other group to coordinate an idea that Tomas had come up with.

Elijah and I set off to search for Tomas and Jezer this morning. And to check for Elam at the tanker truck staging yards.

Our quest today proved fruitless on all counts.

Day One Thousand Eleven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

All remained mute as Quasimo set us on the path out of the city. Jezer and Tomas stayed behind with a promise to catch up soon. They saw to the needs of the traitor to sustain him until such time as he can break his bonds.

And to take care of the problem, as they framed it, of the tanker truck.

On the rise outside of the city, Reuben fell in beside me and shared something gleaned from the prisoner. If we can believe his tale, he had been sent to investigate the explosion. They, the world government, had no idea who was responsible.

From the top I saw the tanker truck on the goat tracks far to the south.

Day Nine Hundred Sixteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We were on lockdown still when he left to take up the thread on our queries. He left me with a whole set of drone components to tinker with. It kept my hands busy and my mind occupied.

Elijah even lent a hand, off and on. It reminded me of the days when I knew Elijah as Lyle, and he called me ‘Enough.’ Back when we built a pair of drones. And left the city behind for the mountain.

When I voiced my recollection, Elijah said it elicited a different memory for him. It made him miss his pigeons, Rufus and Clarissa.

And that touchstone released a new flood of memories about people we hope to see again before long.

Day Nine Hundred Fifteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Jezer had us well hidden within the city. And it was his turn to order us to stay put as he went about our inquiries. We rested in the fact that it was with good reason.

Elijah is now convinced that Raj P’s twin brother G should have arrived with his group in the vicinity long ago. Jezer was equally certain that he could not have failed to hear of their presence if such a sizable group of strangers were out there. But he did no more than state that belief and then obediently acquiesced to follow up Elijah’s hunch.

At day’s end, Jezer returned. So far, all his queries confirmed his assessment. But admittedly he hasn’t exhausted his contacts.

Day Eight Hundred Eighty Five #DiaryofthEndoftheWorld

I launched the drone for a test late last night. It was a success. Then I fell into bed exhausted.

The rest was much needed for it was a taxing day.

As planned the exodus began with the first parties departing the city before sun up. Jezer lead those. They were followed by even bigger groups coordinated by Meesa.

Elijah insisted that he and l be the last to leave. So, we had the hard task of waiting. I put our drone up and monitored the activity of the other drones. Their movements were regular and deliberate. No sign of alarm.

When it came our time to leave, it was dark and we were all alone except for my drone.

Day Eight Hundred Eighty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Jezer returned this morning.  He was expansive about our prospects for the future. In fact, he has already taken two groups out of the city to the hiding place. And they are hard at work making it habitable for those to follow.

But he also had a word of caution. Among those he led out were some men whose forced labor involved delivery of materials down in the civic center. There they gleaned that two factions, the world government versus the local, were at odds in regards to the disposition of our people.

The locals are for our expulsion. The world government officials want to round us up into concentration camps.

Jezer believes their disagreement will work in our favor.

Day Eight Hundred Seventy Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We have completed our first round of meetings, and they have resulted in a multitude of blessings. Besides the bonds that have been forged, the fact that we were kept on the move, thwarted the attempts of the authorities to locate us.

Meesa reports that all are encouraged by our freedom of movement, and they claim it to be the Hand of the Holy One at work on behalf of His children.

I confess to one lingering concern. If the authorities had indeed learned about the presence of Elijah and myself in the city, who told them?

My thoughts insist on returning to the individual who demanded that Elijah confront the persecutors with divine power.

Could anyone be so unwise?

Day Eight Hundred Seventy Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It has come to pass sooner than Jezer thought possible. Stricter controls have been dropped in place overnight between the various quarters within the city, and on all the ways in and out.

And demands have been stepped up for more work and longer hours from those who refuse the mark. Rumors are flying about that harsher measures will soon be implemented.

On the plus side Meesa has scheduled meetings for Elijah and me to reach out through the network leaders.

So Elijah and I were resting in preparation for the next series of meetings, when Jezer came in with news that a search is on for us, launched by world government forces in Damascus.

Someone has betrayed our presence.