Besides ebooks, paperback and hardbound editions are also available.
FYI, the paperback edition includes excerpts from my novel coming this September – “Diary of the End of the World.” And the hardbound edition includes the same plus an additional excerpt from my novel, landing September of 2023 – “The Fairy Diary.”
We are back. After a long and tiring day. Quasimo expertly guided us around the sections that had been demolished not very long ago.
We ran into the Captain and Jezer who were on their way out on an errand. They reversed direction and accompanied us back to the hiding place.
We learned from them that Tomas and Sy have not yet returned. Otherwise everyone is accounted for (now that we are here).
Both Elijah and myself were dismayed that nothing is known about Tomas and Sy. Neither their whereabouts nor their well-being. They should have been back long ago.
Then I remembered the urgent impression I received last week to pray for them. It gave me great comfort.
We continued to languish, albeit in comfortable surroundings, awaiting the return of the Supreme Commander. No explanation was given. Indeed many people came and went, but any conversation was strictly official and never about us in particular.
Among ourselves we speculated about the Captain’s ship. How he so desires to go down and visit her. And to inquire if any of the old crew were still shipping in her.
He entertains the possibility that his individual mission is somehow bound up in her presence here.
Late in the day we witnessed a clash along the outer defenses. The attack was easily driven back.
Then we intimated the obvious reason behind the continued absence of the Supreme Commander.
Elijah remains serene.
Our movements we feel were well beyond the army’s patrols. And the lack of drones too, was a comfort. All the more so as we came down from the hills and onto the plain.
Sy directed us to a well by midday, but it proved a disappointment. He said the water was simply too deep to reach.
Thankfully our need is far from pressing. There was a point after Sy had spoken when I looked to Elijah, but he shook his head, so I knew that it was not quite the time.
Elam was a great help. For he had driven his tanker truck through this area many times, and knew the best places to pass over those routes undetected.
I had a dream over night. Everything about it was unexpected, but not unsettling. In fact, I found it a comfort and an encouragement.
In it Grazie came to speak to me, though uttering not a word at first. Her countenance beamed with serenity. Which enfolded me like a hug and communicated more than her voice would have.
And, in effect, shut down a nightmarish vision that lurked at the periphery of my consciousness.
Only after she had my complete attention did she speak.
She simply said, “A child shall lead you.” And smiled.
And was gone.
I shared the dream with Elijah. And at the moment I finished Mawuli walked into our camp. And asked when we were leaving.
An unforeseen consequence to our staying here has surfaced. In our council last night we had decided to schedule our departure for the day after tomorrow. When this plan was announced this morning there was audible grumbling in certain quarters.
I took it upon myself to investigate and tracked down a few of the discontents. Each one shared the same reasoning, a reluctance to give up their present comfort for an unknown future.
I remonstrated with them to little effect. So I turned the whole matter over to the Purser and Elijah.
By day’s end my friends had them convinced of the folly of their thirst for comfort. No doubt Elijah’s vision of future troubles within these confines clinched it
I took Elijah’s words to heart and pondered them during my quiet times. It required chasing away the images of our friends in dire straits. Something not easy to do, for I did not want to miss any opportunity to intercede for them in what I was sure was their current peril.
Elijah kept us on the move. Forward. For the only other way would be back to the scene of the attack upon us.
I took comfort from the fact that these rock formations hem us in on each side.
It was then that I realized that the Spirit had used the attack to channel us forward. In a way l feel it has helped to confirm our destination.
We have spent the whole day here. Barely moving. And shall spend the night too, rather than travel on.
The Captain has seen to the comfort and rest of our young friend Tomas. His condition and the weakening constitution of Elijah will keep us here overnight and possibly a few days more.
It is now clear why the discipline of fasting was denied me. My strength was necessary to tend to the needs of others in our group.
One item of curiosity has surfaced from among the many things Tomas related to us about his recent trip. Tanker trucks, traveling with the army are draining every body of water they pass by.
They take seriously the drought proclaimed by Elijah.
When last in this vicinity we were hounded by drones. Nothing flies above our heads now, not even birds.
Our host explained everything to Elijah. He is related to the woman who had helped us. She disappeared a few days before the deluge from the skies took down everything electronic.
Elijah in his turn explained the mystery behind the woman’s disappearance. It was a great comfort for our host. The time was indeed ripe for him to believe.
When we told him our intent to continue moving onwards into the city, he balked and practically begged us not to. He does all within his power to avoid drawing attention to himself and his people.
We decided to acquiesce for now.
Watch This Space 