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.

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Day Nine Hundred Thirty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Having covered the happenings in our lives (and the hand of the Spirit in those events) throughout the remainder of the day yesterday, we began the discussion of our mutual futures after breakfast.

Sy holds the decided opinion that all the Hamashiachites should come here to this stronghold in the wilderness. And he listed all the benefits, chief of which is their access through Elam to water from under the very noses of our adversaries.

Elijah listened, offering no interruption.

When Sy closed his case with a nod to Elijah for having touted this location to him in the first place, Elijah agreed to allow him to remain, but only if he learned how to escape to the hiding place.

Day Eight Hundred Seventy Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our series of meetings have started to bear fruit. Word comes through Meesa that many people are contacting her, to ask when they can leave.

This ground swell burgeoned throughout the day.

However, we still had the problem of meeting to coordinate our actions to reach our desired goal.

That’s when Jezer reappeared. And he had a solution.

Wherever he had been, he was in position to hear all about our efforts to contact Hamashiachites. He identified those who were the most effective in spreading the word. And now Meesa has a list and a method for pulling us all together.

But Jezer also brought the intelligence that the authorities will soon be clamping down on movement within the city.

Day Eight Hundred Seventy #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The task before us is proving to be daunting. Just as to sheer magnitude. No mass assemblies are allowed. In most cases we have to make personal contact and the process can be dicey, especially when the parties don’t know one another. It will take much longer than anticipated.

Meesa is our first resort, and though her contacts are many, we have already exhausted them. Jezer knows many more, but he is off on his latest scheme and we do not know when he will be able to introduce us to those in his circle.

Elijah has asked Meesa to invite her most influential contacts to a meeting here this evening in order to better organize the Hamashiachites of Damascus.

Day Eight Hundred Sixty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I find myself warming to our erstwhile friend Jezer. I begin to think that he only acts the scoundrel to acquire what others need. With only minimum thought to himself.

And I also understand better the reason for our call to Damascus.

There are scatterings of Hamashiachites throughout the city. Late comers to belief after the Great Appearance. Living lives in fear and persecution when found out. And sorely in need of a leader.

And Elijah shall fill that need, willingly and most gladly. I shall help, of course. But unlike with other groups we have gathered in the past, we shall lead them ourselves to Jerusalem, and not hand them over to others to direct.

And time is short.

Day Seven Hundred Eighty One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I accompanied Elijah to the city. The others remained behind with our hosts, tasked with important assignments. Tomas will see to their instruction. Mei will continue to build relationships, and to learn also from Tomas.

The Captain was to have remained with them, and lend a hand where needed, but, at the last minute, he insisted upon traveling to the city with us.

Not just because he knows the way, but, more importantly to him, he had confirmed yesterday that the ruling interests in the city were inimical to the Hamashiachites and had indeed been the impetus behind their expulsion. And their designs were aided and abetted by the hunter factions.

He wants to be with us come what may.

Day Seven Hundred Seventy Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We took the Captain’s usual advice and gave wide berth to the hunters’ village. Yet time after time Tomas had to adjust our way again as village after village cropped up across our path.

The whole process moved us steadily away from our desired compass point.

Finally, Tomas brought us all atop one hillock to see rings of villages between us and a city at the edge of the prairie.

I looked to Elijah and he nodded.

I knew this city was our next stop. But then we debated how to get there.

Did we dare enter one of these villages? They were more than likely responsible for the attack we had overheard.

And had they driven out the Hamashiachites?

Day Seven Hundred Sixty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We were hopeful that our pursuers had given up. Or perhaps even lost and off on the wrong track.

Thus we were thinking as we entered this mountain valley. Strange to see such rich pasturage on either hand, and no flocks being shepherded. In fact it seemed untouched, as though undiscovered. But surely that could not be the case, for many groups of Hamashiachites must  have crossed this very meadow.

Mei came to me in the afternoon. She was troubled, but not about what troubled me. She had dreamed again last night about the dark shadow coming between us and the moon and stars.

Unlike before, the telling of her dream raised the hackles on the back of my neck.

Day Six Hundred Twenty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

A mass of clouds seemed to threaten rain this morning, but the hidden sun burnt its way through and melted them to nothing.

Elijah and Tomas in talking with our newly found Hamashiachites learned about another passage through the area ahead. A mountain track, actually, but one they have often traversed.

They were eager after Elijah’s urging to begin his prescribed pilgrimage, so we agreed to depart immediately.

Thus we have found ourselves this evening with an unparalleled view of the surrounding territory.

The army can be seen struggling through the narrow pass below us. Like a bloated snake caught in a rock crevice.

Elijah holds out hope that we shall emerge out in front of that million man army.

Day Five Hundred Fifty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah and I met with the Hamashiachites early. We had exciting news. Our queries had led us to a group that meets under the sign of the fish. They are eager to meet with and join our people in their pilgrimage.

We have much to prepare before tomorrow. And we will have to adopt the same strategy to get them ashore as we did to get them on the ship, sending them out by twos and threes.

And all by the end of tomorrow, for the Captain tells us our business will be complete here and we’ll no longer have a reason to remain.

He also learned the other ship needs our help. They do not bear the mark either.