Day One Thousand Two Hundred #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We’re still sorting through the incidents of yesterday. We possess the redoubt. All its defenders are no more. Even Moglen is gone. Caught nearby the altar when fire from heaven descended at the command of Elijah.

What that all means for the future puzzles us. Does it mean Stan gains the advantage?

I can’t think so. But Jezer and a few others are fearful of unlooked for consequences entailed by his ‘sacrifice’ instead of Mawuli’s.

Tomas and the Captain are struggling with the full impact of their actions.

Elijah will talk to them after he finishes conferring with Jezer. Mei and Jezer want to leave immediately for the hiding place, but Elijah has a different opinion.

I believe we’re staying.

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Day One Thousand One Hundred Ninety Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The number of Moglen’s men packing the crate multiplied today. So they quickly and easily attained the high place.

We observed the proceedings with Tomas from our position, while Reuben and Sy watched from theirs.

My hopes rose after the crate was opened and I saw the idol laying there in pieces. I thought it was broken. But as it turned out it was in pieces only for transport.

Moglen arrived and supervised its reassembly.

The monstrosity was set in place above the stone altar before the afternoon was consumed.

That was when a commotion erupted down in the redoubt. To our horror Magwich had arrived and launched an assault to free Mawuli. They were all cut down and killed.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Ninety Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Sy woke us in the early morning with a report that explosions could be heard coming from the direction of Babylon. As we strained to see over the horizon we could make out the glow from the same. Then the many camps far below on the plain stirred to life.

We watched with interest the goings on throughout the day.

Moglen’s outpost on these heights packed up and descended down to the redoubt.

Another group operating from the redoubt, labored all the daylight hours, and succeeded in carrying the crate half way up to the high place.

Before the sun set Reuben and his team arrived, guided by Sy’s men sent down for that purpose.

Elijah and I made ready.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Ninety Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

There were many roving patrols we had to dodge up on these heights above the altar. And we had to set up even further back as Moglen had positioned an outpost where we hid when last we were here.

After we were in place, we sent Tomas back down the trail. From the hills on the way here we had spotted Sy’s group emerge out of the village into the wilderness. He will meet up with them and lead them up to this position.

Elijah and I made a quick trip down for a closer look. We saw that all its stone work appears to be back in place. But as of yet no golden idol.

Five days to go.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Eighty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I was in the set apart place when Elijah entered. I could sense he had arrived to talk. But he patiently waited not wanting to interrupt.

For my part I didn’t want to be interrupted either. I was intent one more time to petition the Spirit to move on Mawuli’s behalf. My mind was losing its concentration, however, and I was straining to focus.

Suddenly the Spirit interrupted me with two words. “New moon.”

I was startled so I turned to Elijah and repeated the words.

He nodded, his lips compressed into a grim line.

“The next one is in ten days. From Tomas’s report we know Stan and Moglen missed the last one. We shall thwart this one too.”

Day One Thousand One Hundred Eighty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Much rejoicing today as Tomas and Sy have returned – accompanied by an overjoyed Captain and Jezer (their expedition put on hold again after encountering them).

It took a while to assemble all the leaders, a particularly trying situation for Tomas as he was bursting to tell us everything.

Mei was the last one located and came running when she received word.

I noticed that Sy was quiet and brooding the whole time we were waiting, and became more so when Tomas began to speak.

They had not located Mawuli. But they have suspicions.  A vehicle carrying Moglen was seen moving from camp to camp behind the lines.

And as suspected the altar has been rebuilt- as yet without an idol.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Sixty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Everyone has made the leap of logic and lines up the rumored sacrifice with the person of our young friend.

I was at the point of second guessing and backing off on that conclusion, banking on the fact that any hard evidence to the connection is completely lacking, when Elijah interjected that Mawuli is indeed in Moglen’s clutches and it is Stan’s intent to sacrifice the boy.

Then I knew in my heart that the altar had been replaced once again up on the heights above Sy’s old redoubt.

And I knew that we would be returning there.

Thankfully before that thought could immobilize me, Elijah set me some tasks around the hiding place that could benefit from my attention.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Forty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

This morning Elijah sent Reuben out again to check. He returned almost immediately. While he watched, Moglen who was still lurking, turned about and left.

With this news, Reuben and I thought we should leave as soon as possible. But Elijah surprised us by insisting that we wait a while longer. Adding that we have an appointment to keep.

He waved aside any further query and asked us to be praying for his two bands of pupils. He said they were in sore need of our support.

This we did until Elijah announced it was time to depart.

At every turn of the path I expected to see one of Elijah’s pupils. Imagine my surprise when we came upon Tomas.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Forty Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Once his fright was past, Reuben grew quiet. And thoughtful.

By this morning he was the old Reuben. Until he went out to check again. He rushed back in to exclaim that Moglen was still out there. Not in the same spot as before. But there. Watching and waiting as before.

It took both Elijah and me to settle him down. We were not dealing with fear this time, the more he thought about the situation the more enraged he became.

He wanted to go out and eliminate Moglen.

Elijah made the breakthrough by explaining we were not dealing with what can be seen but rather with what we can’t.

And most importantly- our rage can never bring God’s justice.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Forty One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Reuben was the one who discovered the cave. He said afterwards that it was as though he was pulled into it. And I marvel that he did, for no way was the entrance visible from the path below on which we were fleeing.

And we gained its safety none too soon for otherwise the swarm of drones would have overtaken us.

And here we have stayed put through the night and all of today.  Reuben was restless and made frequent forays to take a peek around. He reported the movement of soldiers in the distance, happily, headed in the wrong direction, but was shaken to his core the last time when he spotted Moglen standing nearby, watching in silence, alone.