Day One Thousand Two Hundred Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Insufferably cold today. We kept sequestered in the redoubt. Huddled by the fire, for the most part. And the duration of the watches were shortened to limit exposure.

For the better part of the day we did not see Elijah or Mawuli. So, they missed the beginnings of the excitement when Reuben, on his tour, called for our help.

A pack of wild dogs had been feeding down in the garbage pit, when they caught Reuben’s (or perhaps our) scent.

Originally he had seen only a half dozen or so. By the time I joined him it grew to a hundred starving beasts circling the redoubt.

I broke in on Elijah and Mawuli to enlist their aid against the threat.

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Day One Thousand One Hundred Eighty Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I was disappointed. Instead of being back in the hiding place and resting, we were trudging up and over hills avoiding the major pathways.

As we neared the Damascus-Jerusalem road, my attitude improved for I recovered my bearings. And soon after Quasimo took the lead as he was more familiar with these approaches to our destination.

Elijah held me back and picked up our conversation of the other day. He shared that his dreams about the end have returned and are stronger than ever. He confessed that he does not dwell on them but finds that as the time draws closer, he did not want to let the opportunity pass to thank me for my constant help and companionship.

Day One Thousand Sixty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our movements we feel were well beyond the army’s patrols. And the lack of drones too, was a comfort.  All the more so as we came down from the hills and onto the plain.

Sy directed us to a well by midday, but it proved a disappointment. He said the water was simply too deep to reach.

Thankfully our need is far from pressing. There was a point after Sy had spoken when I looked to Elijah, but he shook his head, so I knew that it was not quite the time.

Elam was a great help. For he had driven his tanker truck through this area many times, and knew the best places to pass over those routes undetected.

Day Nine Hundred #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Quasimo came to us to offer his help. He shares our concern over Meesa’s disappearance. Though their acquaintance has been but brief, he has learned from the others her part in their rescue.

Jezer was reticent to accept his offer. Though commending his gratitude as the motivation, he said he’d prefer someone familiar with the region in particular.

I suspected that another reason (or force) was at play here. And Elijah sensed it too.

We sent out Jezer by himself and made the point to pass the rest of the day with Quasimo.

When he related their experiences in the desert, playing hide and seek with another large group, we realized that that mystery group may be one of ours.

Day Seven Hundred Eighteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

All aspects of our situation are providential in the extreme. A day later and we would have missed G and his charges altogether.

One of the men with him had been one of those raised up from a sickbed by Elijah in that hospital in the seaport so long ago. He is from this area and had lead them to the safety of the compound. And he lead the way towards our next destination somewhere off to the north.

Without his help and his knowledge of the surrounding territory we would have completely missed the unmarked path that branches off the main trail where we now stand after our trek down from the mountains.

We made our goodbyes and parted.

Day Five Hundred Sixty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

This island is a lot bigger than we thought. It took nearly twenty four hours to come around to the other side. And we were slowed considerably by the necessity of avoiding debris bobbing on the waters.

We concluded that the tsunami must have hit this side, and this was confirmed by the master of the vessel in the channel, when he came over to warn us.

Our Captain explained to him our desire to lend any help we could. But he was reticent to our entering the port.

At this juncture Elijah declared that the danger of any more tsunamis was past. The ship master was nonplussed at his outburst, but raised no further objection.

The vision proved true.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We would have (and could have) traversed the underground passage in the space of the daylight hours. But we had some unforeseen obstacles and equally unforeseen discoveries, all of which decided us to remain down here for awhile.

First, our progress was impeded and slowed down by a blockage. A section of the tunnel ceiling (a floor from the structure above) had caved in and all access around was cut off. We were at the point of turning around when Elijah found an entrance into a building. We entered and by trial and error made our way up and over the obstruction.

It was all providential. Our delay meant that we encountered a band of people that needed our help.

Day Two Hundred Twenty Late Morning #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Lyle writes:

I meant to check out that water fountain, but was sidetracked by a voice calling out my name. Thought it might be Enough calling for help.  

But realized it was the wind and my imagination.

Must be wary of my weakened state.

Day One Hundred Forty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Lyle returned without Kip this morning, so we had lots to talk about on the way out to the vineyard. The gates closed while they were in Kip’s district, so they had to spend the night. And though Lyle was free to leave, Kip could not. However, he is confident that after completing some paperwork he will be allowed to depart.

Lyle reported that an offer for use of the machines was indeed made. As a condition we must all first receive a mark issued by the world government, a permit to do business with them.

We are both suspicious.

At the agreed time, Grazie joined us. She, like Kip, wants to leave the west end. And asked our help.