Day One Thousand Fifty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Another long day passed slowly. To all outward appearances – boring and pointless – but to our inward beings – rich and satisfying – and all the more so as we shared with one another around the evening meal.

We are agreed as to the direction of our next move, down to the route we will take – supplied by Sy.

What remains is the all important timing. We all agree. We will not set out, or should not set out until there is one more addition to our party.

But as to who that may be, we are not in agreement.

The Captain thinks it will be Tomas; Mei opts for Meesa; Sy and I are certain it will be Elam. Elijah remains silent.

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Day Nine Hundred Seventy #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I knew before Elijah told me that we would be going out westward to check for the Purser and his band. It was all the more logical since they were originating from that quarter.

But first we saw the others off, counseling them to stay together until the staging yard for the tanker trucks. Elam and Magwich would continue on to the Galilee from there, and if the army’s presence doesn’t prevent it, Jezer and Reuben may be able to go on short runs in and around Damascus to check that area. Otherwise they’ll go on foot. Jezer knows what to do.

And we will be leaving the hiding place under the capable direction of Meesa and Mei and Quasimo.

Day Seven Hundred Ninety Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We encamped in the dark last night upon the instruction of our talented scout. Tomas was quick to promise that we would thank him in the morning.

And so with the dawn we did. The ground he had chosen was on a rise with a stunning view of our road ahead. It continued to skirt the hilly country at the edge of the prairie, running towards the southeast, our desired direction.

And Elijah and I had ample time to admire the view to the east as we waited to take up our position at the end of the column. There the towering mountains we had come through glowed in the beams of the sun on its rise.

So did we.

Day Seven Hundred Thirty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Mei remained at the rear of our troop, while Lung kept by Elijah’s side most of the day. He had many questions and appeared eager to listen to Elijah’s answers.

At one point I dropped back to keep her company. She remained taciturn to most of my comments. She only became animated either during those times when Tomas returned from the advance, or when she raised her rifle at the slightest hint of danger. And she almost blushed when Tomas joined us to inform me about a fork ahead in the road.

We left her company to confer with Elijah and the Captain about which direction we should take.

The main road continues paved. We will take the unpaved one.

Day Seven Hundred Twenty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Tomas made a couple of jaunts to our rear to head off any surprises from that quarter. Satisfied he changed his focus to the direction ahead.

In between two such forays Elijah collared him, whispered some instructions and sent him on his way.

I guessed that the thrust of their exchange had to do with the smudge that was then open to our view off to the right of our track.

I know I was curious about it.

It was quite some time before Tomas returned from his exploratory errand.

And I was correct Elijah had indeed dispatched him to discover what lay behind that ‘smudge.’

Tomas was excited. He wanted the Captain to return with him for a look.

Day Six Hundred Seventy Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah and I passed the day dodging patrols searching for us. Patrols set upon us by the innkeeper who recognized Elijah as the “troublemaker.”

Before he came back for me, Elijah hid the Captain and Tomas away somewhere in the mountains. And they are waiting for us there now.

When we will rejoin them is the question. For we are being held here at the direction of the Spirit for His purposes.

In our wanderings we noticed that the army’s tanker trucks are hard at work siphoning up any water that is left in the river. The whole process shouldn’t take much longer.

I wonder what the town will do once the army leaves and they’ve taken all they wanted.

Day Six Hundred Sixty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The high mountains to the south are dropping behind us, and slipping below that horizon. At the same time we can finally see the end to this desert, and the beginning of a mountain range rising to block our way.

Of course, none of this was apparent during our night passage, but has now become so clear as we stop at a fork in the road to rest for the daylight hours.

We have some decisions to make before tonight. So, Tomas, ever the explorer, left us to see if the right fork would take us in a desirable direction.

Both Elijah and I think that the space between two of the peaks may indicate the presence of a passage.

Day Six Hundred Twenty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We watched the progress of the sun all day on its arc from East to West.. In one sense we were not progressing for on our southward route we were at a standstill in regards to our desired direction.

Still no sign of the army. No columns of dust, nor distant sounds.

We were confident that we will steal the march on them and from here on out maintain a lead over them.

Elijah brought us to a halt when we were nearing the main road westward. He stood looking heavenward and like his actions so long ago in my presence, he raised his staff over his head and a flaming object fell out of the sky.

A spy satellite.

Day Six Hundred Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Monotony got the better of the Captain today. Or so he explained it. He just had to take in a change of surroundings. Clear his head.

He decided to head off in the direction taken by the troops yesterday. None had returned so he thought it important to know what they were up to.

He ran into Elijah who was just returning from doing that very thing.

We all thought Elijah was out on the causeways again, but he too had felt the pull to check things out. What he found was an army camp spread out along a river.

Elijah thinks it is meant for a larger force than currently present. It is under construction.

Certainly good to know.

Day Five Hundred Sixteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

That melody discovered to us the sought after Hamashiachites. When I think of the teeming masses around us, I marvel that Elijah and I are now among these precious people.

We call them simply the Raj – again on account of our inability to reproduce their sentence long name. Three generations of a single family with almost as many members as letters in that name.

They confess they have been like sheep without a shepherd and rejoice to finally have direction and a purpose. (Through Elijah’s ministrations, of course).

And the benefit has been reciprocal in their willingness to look after our needs.

And wonder of wonders, the two youngest men have found work in a shipyard.

Tomorrow they take us.