Day One Thousand One Hundred Eighty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah has a bead on an explanation behind all our questions. He took me on a walk. Alone this time – across the entire cavern to the set apart place.

He posits that our movements and certain interactions with others had influenced the actions of the armies in question. In essence we kept the conflicts from escalating because the energies of one or the other was focused on us.

The Spirit has used us to hold the enemies apart until the fullness of time.

But once we were alone in the set apart place, far from listening ears, he disclosed the most harrowing details. The designs against Mawuli, he fears, will not only include his sacrifice but also some unnamable abuse.

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Day One Thousand One Hundred Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our guards kept us back and away from the perimeter while a special unit toiled away removing the bodies left in the wake of yesterday’s attack.

I was wondering if the true inspiration behind the incident could be laid at the machinations of our bête noir, Moglen, when Elijah interrupted my train of thought with an apology and an explanation.

He also had sighted Moglen yesterday and not told me. He had gone over to the holding pens (his apology was for that action, having traveled somewhere without me). Its inhabitants proved to be deranged, beyond all reach, completely unsalvageable. And he can state with certainty that Moglen was indeed responsible for the opposition that arose from there – and more.

Day One Thousand Twenty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah and I went over our plans before our anticipated departure tomorrow. Not that we planned everything in minute detail. In our experience, collectively and individually, that would be counterproductive and would run the risk of missing the Spirit’s leading.

We did settle upon a direction.

At first I was all for heading north as I thought that the most likely place to begin our search for Tomas and Jezer after my talk with Quasimo yesterday.

Elijah dismissed that notion, not unkindly, but with an explanation that revealed he knew more than I did. His first pupils had been responsible for covering our crossing from that direction, our missing friends acted only to the south.

So, Damascus is our destination.

Day Nine Hundred Seventy Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I’m beginning to fear we might have to return to Babylon. I’ve been turning Mei’s words over and over in my mind, pondering the meaning of something being light and dark simultaneously.  And can come up with no other likely explanation.

Currently.

Tomas continued to energetically move about. He seemed to be everywhere. And no one among all the people we encountered throughout the day knew of any strangers in the land. (The number we encountered was actually quite low).

I brought up my thoughts about Babylon to Elijah. He actually stopped and stood stock still for the longest time.

When he came to, he shook his head ‘no’ and continued onwards.

However, I could not stop thinking about it.

Day Nine Hundred Fifty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I awoke this morning with a song bubbling up from within. Its tune, the same as that given to me two days before Elijah and I met the Raj family. And the one they were singing at the moment our paths crossed.

This coupled with what Elijah shared with us yesterday sent shivers of excitement through me.

I ran to tell Elijah. And found him with Reuben and Magwich. I just barely finished my explanation when a guard interrupted us, jabbering about needing our presence in the delivery area of the prison.

Three tanker trucks had pulled into the prison and were pumping out their contents into the water cisterns.

The three drivers greeted us – Jezer, Elam, and Raj G.

Day Eight Hundred Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I thought I was seeing things. For no apparent reason water was pooling in the once dry riverbed. It spread from the direction of the megapolis, instead of down from the mountains at our back.

Soon it was filled from bank to bank, and not long after we discovered the explanation to my mystery.

Several tanker trucks were queued up and one by one were discharging their contents forming the river.

No one detained us as we skirted the area, but many stared with suspicion.

One of the drivers got out and followed – until he was ordered back to his vehicle.

Further on I puzzled over some machinery, submerged near the water’s edge.

Elijah looked and said, “It’s for irrigation.”

Day Seven Hundred Twenty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We exercised the usual caution today.  At first light Tomas went into the city to scout, while we stayed on the outskirts.

The Captain was focused on the fruit trees that were indeed on the approaches to the city. Very little fruit was left to glean. What there was, was green or in one instance mealy.

Tomas brought an end to our foraging upon his return. With a long explanation he hustled us into the city.

The city was in the throes of preparing to stave off an invasion.  He convinced us that we needed to be settled as soon as possible.

Thankfully we found an inn. Though Stan’s image was everywhere no one asked if we bore the mark.

Day Six Hundred Eighty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah awoke first, and came and roused me. We collected Tomas and the Captain and departed our captors.

Both soldiers were in a deep, sound sleep.

Outside the crevice I had to hush our puzzled companions until we were further down the trail.

Later to my explanation the Captain said it was like one of the passages he had read to me recently. I concurred.

We looked for the army but the pass below was empty. Elijah told us it was imperative for us to catch up to them.

We picked up the pace, but I was not convinced it would make any difference. Another path at a fork looked to suffice and we took it despite its radiation warning.

Day Six Hundred Sixty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

A momentous day. Advance motorized units of the army came roaring into town at dawn. The townspeople, those who had not fled, stayed inside. Only a few were brave enough to venture out.

Seeing that these soldiers were non-threatening, more denizens, their curiosity whetted, joined those already out gawking.

The main body of the army came through at noon, and for the next six hours filled up the plain towards the mountains.

For most of that time, Tomas and I were out and about, looking for the Captain. Elijah wanted us to stop him from arranging our truck transport. His only explanation being that we cannot yet leave the area.

We were successful in both objects.

Now to wait.

Day Five Hundred Sixty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The atmosphere on this island is distinctly unfriendly. The Captain is puzzled by this and he admits to a battle within himself to not be hostile in return.

The cleanup on shore goes on around the clock. So perhaps the attitude could be ascribed to exhaustion and a seemingly unending undertaking.

But Elijah and I made a couple more forays and brought back another explanation.

The prevailing talk points to their deep sense of guilt over their lukewarmness towards the cult of Stan. (Some attribute it to their abandonment of the past, but they are a minuscule minority).

Because they will do anything to appease Stan, we predict things will get uglier.

The Captain concurs. We need to leave – soon.