Day One Thousand Sixty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah gathered us together after breakfast. The general expectation prevailed that he would announce our departure immediately. All the more so since Elam’s revelation that he too had been given a vision of a rising tide of blood.

But Elijah caught us off balance. Though he concurs that our group is now complete, he does not agree that it is time to leave.

He has called for another fast and that it is to commence tomorrow when we set out on to the road eastward. We shall halt on the stone bridge and there hold a vigil and await a sign.

We then passed the day in preparation both physically and spiritually.

And Mei cheerfully lent a hand to all.

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Day Eight Hundred Forty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We are one night’s march along the corridor of this valley, and the ‘hill’ at the far end has indeed “grown.” We are more confident than ever we are adhering to the path laid out for us by Quasimo. Hence today we have brought our fast to a close.

I had much to ruminate about in my times on watch. Over night it was much colder than ever before. Elijah thinks we may see snow in the next day or so. I can believe it.

The barking has ceased to dog our steps. Whatever they were must have continued on north. Silence instead muffled our ears – then and now.

Two more night marches should bring us out of the desert.

Day Seven Hundred Fourteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Tomas has taken up his wanderlust again, traveling in advance of us, sampling the paths that branch off of this main one. None have been judged better than the one we are on.

Elijah has ended his fast so he kept up with our brisk pace.

Tomas did beg us to join him up on a vantage point, a short distance off the beaten track.

It offered a full view of an hundred eighty degree arc of the mountain ranges west of us. They look for all the world like waves frozen in place on its march to the sands of the desert off in the distance.

But more importantly we could see that our path veers towards the west.

Day Seven Hundred Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It took quite some time to clear away the obstructions. An engineering unit was brought up for the heavy lifting to that end. Until they arrived the leaders of this unit set down the best path for the endeavor.

This left us with a lot of free time. Elijah suggested that we all fast. We agreed.

Our non-eating went unnoticed among our army companions until our absence at evening mess.

It created no little stir.

We were each interrogated about what we were not doing. Something about this behavior unsettled them, making them very suspicious. And in a way I believe they somehow intuited the power that lies behind it.

I finally convinced them they had nothing to fear.

Day Six Hundred Seventy #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Overwhelmed.

This is one of those times when so much has happened I am not able to write it all down. So I’ll just touch on my highest concern.

I went out early to find some light fare with which Elijah can end his fast. (And to look around and get a feel for our situation). The innkeeper looked nervous when he saw me leave.

After a multitude of encounters in the market I concluded that it was sold out of fruit. A function of the army’s presence.

That being the case I found and begged a few pieces from an army mess.

Upon my return to the inn, the innkeeper was gone. Vanished.

And so were my three friends.

Day Six Hundred Sixty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It was strange to see other human beings going about everyday tasks. Such sights seem like forever ago.

We have entered the valley which we found dotted with small farms, and a town or small city rises from its center.

Much of the activity hereabouts deals with bringing water up from the river.

The Captain discovered why. The irrigation ditches are empty, the river being too low to feed them.

My concern grew. What would be their reaction if they knew Elijah was responsible?

We pushed on into the town. And there found an inn.

We plan to stay a few days, as Elijah has now told us he plans to end his fast in four days.

He needs rest.

Day Two Hundred Forty One Afternoon #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Enoch writes:

Ended my fast today with fruit from the date palms. The dates are sweet.

As I ate, two pigeons joined me and begged to eat.

Day Two Hundred Forty One Late Morning #DiaryoftheEnoftheWorld

Elijah writes:

Carried down from the mountain and left by my pool. My fast is at an end but won’t be really over until I find food.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Afternoon #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Enough writes:

Pushed myself hard today. Made a tour around the whole oasis the better to plan for the end of my fast.

Carry an inventory of edibles in my head.

Wait with expectation.

Day Two Hundred Twenty Five Afternoon #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Enough writes:

As this fast lengthens, realize the need to lessen my movements and exertions.

My world is shrinking. And it must be so. Through the eye of the needle.

It also means Stan may no longer be avoidable.