Day One Thousand Two Hundred Thirty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Mei and Mawuli brought us in to the hiding place with a minimum of difficulty. There was no quelling the celebration that greeted our safe return. Only the news about Tomas and the Captain dampened the spirits of some, those that knew and loved them.

At the first opportunity Reuben and Sy sought an audience to relay important intelligence. Both had just returned from Jerusalem. Stan is indeed there, gloating over his ‘complete victory.’ A conclusion he claims since he is the ‘last leader standing.’ And though triumphant the general feeling among his followers is an abiding hatred towards Elijah and his followers.

Because they realized we would soon be going there, they were begging the honor to accompany us.

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Day Nine Hundred Fifty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The boot of our oppressor has ever so slightly been lifted off of our necks. It gives us hope that we will soon have more freedom of action. And eases my suspicion that knowledge of our identities had been rediscovered.

Elijah found a place apart and held up there all day. While I kept in contact off and on with the leaders to discuss future plans. But really there was little we felt we could do until we hear from Reuben, the guard who is working on our behalf.

Later we heard the most shocking news from him. The Hamashiachite followers of Raj G in the other dungeons of this prison have all disappeared.

Hence the severe crackdown of yesterday.

Day Seven Hundred Fifty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

After seeing the latest group off, Elijah and I sat down with Jordan for a long talk. We asked about his trip here, and then about the conditions in the countries from which the followers were fleeing.

It was a dark, dark picture. Persecution, torture, and death.

When I think back on our wanderings I consider how well we have been protected and cared for.

Jordan’s journey was attended by war and conflict as brought by the world government in subjugating all the local regions within their reach. In town after town capitulated to the mark, they await secretly the great army from the East as their liberator.

But as Jordan reads it they just want to be lords themselves.

Day Six Hundred Fifty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The campfires (we could now discern there was more than one) held to their position. At my order we kept a slow pace throughout the night.

Our plan was to arrive in daylight.  It wouldn’t do to have some strangers suddenly appear out of the darkness to stumble upon a more than likely armed host.

And Elijah insisted upon an additional precaution, he went in alone, while we kept out of sight.

After a brief separation Elijah returned to collect us, and to introduce us to our new friends.

They are indeed from that huge army. A whole platoon of deserters. Minus their leaders.

And to Elijah’s delight (and our surprise) new followers of Yeshua Hamashiach.

They trailed Elijah everywhere.

Day Four Hundred Eighty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We were lifted on the wings of the Spirit and borne over water and the city itself. And deposited gently in a field beside a road running from the city.

Elijah wasted no time in taking up the advance down the road. I asked why we were bypassing the port city. He explained that he already knew that any followers of Hamashiach had left long ago. And that we no doubt had a long way to go before encountering any, if at all.

Miles and miles of dusty road, and not a village, nor even a house did we pass by. It was like the city behind us had sucked its surroundings into its sprawl, leaving the vast countryside empty.

Day Four Hundred Seventy Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

While the small boats were transporting the cargo, Elijah hopped a ride to visit the village. I kept count of the items to ensure nothing was missed.

The Captain accompanied the last boat this morning to collect payment and to retrieve Elijah. The Captain confirmed Tomas’ guess as to the future use of the tin and bauxite. The village is merely a way station on its journey to a manufacturing facility.

In his tours of the outskirts, Elijah noticed that camel caravans were coming and going hourly. They will no doubt be the next mode of transport for that shipment.

Elijah also told me that there were absolutely no followers of Hamashiach in the village.
This saddened him very much.

Day Four Hundred Sixty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The last of the boatloads was winched up and stowed aboard this afternoon. I’ve lost track of the amount of trips they’ve made, but I have an exacting account of the amounts of tin and bauxite.

Elijah made a trip ashore to look around and meet the people. He brought back news about the Purser. Some people from the village had heard about his passage northward, and being followers of Hamashiach went out and joined his group.

The shipper has paid half of the shipping costs, and we are to collect our other half from the consignees. (The metals are in trade for items that they have received already).

An eleven hour trip across the mouth of the gulf awaits.

Day Four Hundred Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We are on the road, and traveling the route that other followers of Hamashiach have taken before us. We left shortly after Elijah returned from Stan’s meeting at the riverfront inn.

The whole town had been there and eager to receive the mark.

However, Stan was only able to bestow the “honors” upon one couple – the very ones who possess the inn in which we last stayed. Stan had no sooner finished with them when the meeting was broken up by a hoard of bees that filled the riverfront area.

Elijah sensed an immediate release. Me too.

Unlike the other route, there are lots of villages lining the road. We shall look for an inn in the next one ahead.

Day Three Hundred Ninety Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

While awaiting direction, Elijah kept to himself and remained at the inn. I roamed the streets of the riverfront town. I think I had it covered all before noon.

I’d hardly seen any of it my first time through with the Purser’s family. Now I consider myself an expert. I could give tours.

Our inn is surrounded by markets, which are constantly supplied by traffic from the river. I took notes on schedules and fares, should we be led up or down river.

Moving out from there I finally came upon the route used by the followers of Hamashiach in their flight from the area. I have the strongest feeling that our course lays along that way.

Let Elijah decide.

Day Three Hundred Eighty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Given Elijah’s time in this city, as long as he showed interest in who was coming in and not considering a departure by their gates, he was ignored. But now that he or rather “we” are planning our exit, everyone asks questions about us. When are we going – and where and for what reason? In his second such encounter he learned they do not have a kind regard for the followers of Hamashiach.

The Purser tells us this is not typical to his experience in the past. But it makes sense to me. Without the stabilizing force of the Spirit to the city, those remaining are suspicious of those who “abandoned” them.

We shall depart as soon as we can.