Day Six Hundred Eighteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Three days from today we will set out. We are no longer contending with each other for our future destiny. The Spirit has shown each one that to follow Elijah is to follow Him.

We must prepare. Each one in his own way.

Elijah visited his spot on the causeway.

The Captain traveled beyond the crossroads to reconnoiter the area towards the army camp.

I accompanied the Captain, only parting from him later to better cover the vicinity down by the river to search out crossings.

Tomas remained in the house and conversed with our neighbor.  It was from that source that he learned another name for Hamashiach – Yeshua. Our neighbor carries it from the memory of being left behind.

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Day Six Hundred Fifteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The stamp of feet no longer reverberates throughout the house. The last soldier column passed our crossroads around midnight during my watch.

The silence was welcome.

After my turn on guard I slept and actually got some rest.

Upon rising, Elijah was just returning from some time apart on the causeway. He reported more strangeness.

The farmers were on the roads again, but instead of being bound for the city, they were headed towards the army camp.

We decided to postpone our departure for today. Instead we dispatched the Captain into the city to reconnoiter.

The news he brought back was disconcerting. Not a single man of military age remains in the city, only women or children or old men.

Day Six Hundred Fourteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The passage of columns of soldiers continued unabated throughout the night. And shows no sign of let up today.

At least they ignore us, passing onwards in the disinterested manner of soldiers under orders, orders that have nothing to say about us.

Our neighbor came to lunch and passed the afternoon with us. At his invitation we dined at his house, spending a pleasant evening with him. He told us about our future host, one of the wealthiest men among the exiles. He was successful in extracting all of it before being forced out.

Elijah then surprised him with the question- “Is he not the uncle of Mr. Kagi?”

Our host stammered in the affirmative and even I was impressed.

Day Six Hundred Twelve #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Another day of waiting. Still hopeful.

Our neighbor dropped in and with all gathered around to watch, he drew up a map for us. I noted down his running commentary as additional directions for our use.

He also presented Elijah with a letter of introduction to his friend, and fellow exile, on the other side of the city.

So, we will be well prepared to leave immediately after Tomas’ return.

The Captain made it his responsibility to insure that all is set right in the house. It fits his personality as one who’s a stickler for having everything ship-shape.

I was at the point of winding up this entry when Tomas, all smiles,  came walking through the front door.

Day Six Hundred Ten #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We kept a revolving watch through the night. No sign of our neighbor. The Captain even checked inside his house twice via the tunnel.

Foul play is a possibility, but the likelihood of that seems low. It is more likely that he is just visiting a fellow exile whom he mentioned also lives in the country on the other side of the city.

Although that possibility portends well in light of what we want to ask him, Tomas volunteered to actually go there and scout it out for us.

We gave him our blessing and set him on his way with the farmers going to market.

The three of us remaining behind alternated between the house and the peaceful causeway.

Day Six Hundred Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

A different pair of guards were at the crossroads this morning. So we knew there had been a change during the night.

I was wondering what would come next and talking with the Captain and Tomas about their views when Elijah joined us.

He announced simply that the troops would soon be making an house to house search.

At that very moment our neighbor appeared out of thin air and said he had a way around that problem.

Recovering from our shock, he took us down to the cellar and over to his house via a subterranean passage.

He believes his will be searched first and can signal to us when our fugitives need to hold up in the tunnel.

Day Six Hundred #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The normal rhythms of life returned this morning. Nothing stirred yesterday as the darkness never lifted, but settled seamlessly into the night.

We were watchful all day. All the traffic, such as it was, flowed cityward. We saw the same people and carts plod back at end of day.

We were about to breathe a collective sigh of relief when a small body of troops strode past our house. They continued down the road, but left a pair of guards at the nearby crossroads.

I went out to talk with the guards, but our neighbor reached them first. They rebuffed his curiosity, slamming him to the ground.

I helped our neighbor to his feet and supported him to his home.

Day Two Hundred Seventy Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It would have been a quiet night in the square if not for the revelers at midnight. They appeared intent on hassling anyone in their path. Catching sight of us they came straight for us in a booze fueled fury.

Elijah stood to his feet and around the rock of his presence the subhuman tide split and fell to fighting amongst themselves.

We were not bothered the rest of the night, though we did take turns on watch.

With the dawn we took note of which residences surrounding the square did not disgorge any occupants. The second such house as it turned out belongs to Sy’s parents.

They invited us in. And listened eagerly to the news about their son.

Day One Hundred Ninety Nine Evening #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Enough writes:

We kept to the house last night and throughout the following daylight hours.

I asked Grazie if she had any plan for our next move. She replied that it was nothing other than what I had taught her – just wait for direction.

Evening was coming on, when she announced that she was going out to find her father. Shocked, I wanted to accompany her, but she declined and assured me she would be back.

Before midnight she was.

Within minutes we slipped out into the darkness of the night.

Day One Hundred Seventy One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I was about to write down that nothing happened today. Or, as a subnote, little that I was aware of. For it is unusual not to record anything.

But then Lyle returned.

He was alone. It was not what I had expected. This morning he left with Flowers into the third district to meet the merchant’s parents.

They had reached the street on which they reside, when ahead on the stair before their house they spied Stan waiting.

Flowers made an abrupt about face and evaporated from sight.

Lyle continued on and confronted Stan. But Stan would have none of that and dismissed him when Lyle had no mark to show when asked.

I think the gates are closing forever.