Day One Thousand Two Hundred Twenty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We were hesitant this morning about whether we should push on or not.  The battlefield to the south had fallen silent,  and no victorious troops (which we assumed were the armies of the East and North) had moved up into the positions vacated by the world government.

Mawuli removed every reason that we thought could hold us there when he simply stated that we must move on, and do so immediately. Every member of our party simultaneously felt impressed with the same instruction.

So in short order we decamped.

Along the way Mr. Kagi had a revelation and asked me a question- why were there no warplanes?

I then told him what had happened up near the reservoir above Jerusalem.

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Day Nine Hundred Ninety Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It had been a late night for everyone. A lot of time was wasted sorting the needs of such a large number of people. I do not fault the advance group. They performed in a stellar fashion. I am sure they learned a lot and will do better with the next village.

In fact we sent Mawuli off with another advance team this morning. I proposed, however, that we hold off a couple days before our next move.

Jezer and Tomas delivered some water to us on their way through to Reuben’s city. I told them to be on the lookout for Mawuli.

The Purser, having observed Elijah and the young men yesterday prevailed upon him to give more instruction.

Day Nine Hundred Fifty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

How draining it can be to expend oneself all day in the instruction of another. Or in this case more than one “another.” But seldom is anything more rewarding, especially when you sense their hunger for illumination.

All this as a partial explanation for my late rising this morning.

I went in search of Elijah and found him huddled with Reuben and Magwich. It took a moment to catch the gist of their conversation.

Magwich was panicked about the imminent arrival of the commander of the military camp surrounding us. And Reuben sought to encourage him that all would work out.

I volunteered to accompany Magwich as his “model” prisoner.

All ended well, as it was merely a courtesy call.

Day Nine Hundred Thirty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah and I are all by ourselves again. Elam dropped us off per our request near to the spot where he had picked us up four days ago.

Jezer continued on with Elam. Not only to continue his instruction about the whereabouts of the hiding place and how to get there, but also to be instructed himself about the water depot from him.

We retraced our track through the wilderness, debating on the way our next step. Elijah wanted to seek out a path to the prison near Jerusalem. Just to see it.

I convinced him to return to the hiding place first to retrieve one of the drones to make the task all the easier.

This time he agreed.

Day Nine Hundred Twenty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our sendoff was a somber affair, attended only by the leaders and those in the vicinity of the entrance to the hiding place. Everything needing to be said had been said last night. Only Elijah spoke and that was to reiterate his instruction from our conference to dispatch Jezer after us upon his return.

We left the remaining drone behind. Elijah says it won’t be necessary. Indeed, he feels it would be a hindrance. (Another decision vouchsafed by the vision given to the Captain).

Upon emerging we saw the predicted sign – two thin clouds, crossways to one another, and the longer one, pointing towards our goal to the north.

Elijah set the pace and I had to step up mine.

Day Nine Hundred One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

One of those momentous days. It seems that so many days come and go with little to report. Then one day comes along and it’s almost too much even to think about.

It started off when Jezer returned alone. He was looking very dispirited. We had to encourage him not to give up hope.

Elijah instructed him to stay and rest today. Instead, Quasimo and I accompanied Elijah to take up the search.

We took the drone with us. Quasimo was very curious about its operation. And, with the minimum of instruction soon had it mastered.

With its aid under his direction down in the desert from which we had plucked him, we located the mystery group.

And our Meesa.

Day Eight Hundred Ninety Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It was a quick one day trip, a concession to the people left behind in the hiding place. With Jezer gone down to the desert and Meesa just recently returned, they are ill at ease when their leaders are constantly coming and going.

I believe that Elijah is finally coming to grips with his need to pour himself into their instruction.

Yet how much is needed?

Maturity can be such a mystery.

Thankfully our foray proved a blessing and most necessary, for we located Jezer in the desert with the band he was endeavoring to bring in. The minute Quasimo saw us, he ran to greet us. He was relieved to know that Jezer was indeed telling him the truth.

Day Eight Hundred Seventy Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

None of us sat idly by waiting for our rumored expulsion from the city. We each had more than enough to do.

Meesa continued to improve communications over the fragile network of individuals.

Elijah continued a round of meetings in which he did more instruction than any other activity. He also deputized Jezer to travel to our future hiding place and come up with multiple routes for our people to migrate there.

I am trying to help anyway I can. Helping in turn Meesa or Elijah.

And in going to and fro, I was saddened by visions of the destruction soon to be visited upon the city. Visions in which the sounds of construction will be stilled, replaced with weeping.

Day Seven Hundred Ninety Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We encamped in the dark last night upon the instruction of our talented scout. Tomas was quick to promise that we would thank him in the morning.

And so with the dawn we did. The ground he had chosen was on a rise with a stunning view of our road ahead. It continued to skirt the hilly country at the edge of the prairie, running towards the southeast, our desired direction.

And Elijah and I had ample time to admire the view to the east as we waited to take up our position at the end of the column. There the towering mountains we had come through glowed in the beams of the sun on its rise.

So did we.

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.