Day Nine Hundred Thirty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The tanker truck was still a good way off when we saw it halt at nightfall.

We settled in ourselves, and then arose early to cut across the land to meet it lower down.

We took up observation on the high ground, which gave us an excellent view of the slow moving tanker truck and the winding track, both the direction from which it came and ahead where we assumed it was going.

We were watching from our perch when it rumbled by. At the sight of the driver, Elijah jumped to his feet and seemingly flew down the hillside.

There behind the wheel in the cab of the tanker truck was the former madman from the great city, Elam.

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Day Eight Hundred Thirty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I asked Elijah if we could rise before nightfall and  go off our current vector to check over in the area where the barking had ceased.

It also meant a little back tracking, but ended up worthwhile. The sand gave way to bedrock and after a short search we found some water in a pool on the rock surface. It had been fouled by the presence of animals. Unclean for sure.

Elijah found the close by pump and basin whose spillage fed the other. (He practically tripped over it in the darkness).

We were back on track, so we decided to halt and rest.

With the dawn we were able to reacquire our bearings before taking up our alternating watches.

Day Five Hundred Seventy Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I was reluctant to rejoin life outside the special cabin.  Not because of a foreseen consequence to my person, but because of what the day held for our people and for one in particular.

And it was not out of a sense of duty that I went to the Raj twin P, but out of true concern and love to prepare him for coming events.

First I sought out the Captain on the bridge to tell him about the imminent arrival of a manned warship. Elijah was also on the bridge conversing with P. So I called them over.

And as predicted a warship entered the harbor before nightfall, carrying personnel to man the ships and with demands on us.

Day Four Hundred Forty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The only illumination during the night (besides our bonfire) were from the ships in harbor. The city itself lay dark and eerily silent.

The ship we identified as ours appeared to be docked towards the opposite side of the port. So, rising early we set out to march to that end. Our first sight of the landward side was disheartening. The city is so huge we despaired of reaching our goal before nightfall. In the distance a low causeway ran from the interior of the island up to the city. This proved to be a highway leading to the main gate of the city.

I wanted to attempt entry there, but Elijah decided we needed to stick to our plan.

Day Three Hundred Eighty Two late morning #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah writes:

I paced the deck all night waiting for the hour when I would be allowed to leave the ship. I had to wrestle with the Captain over the issue. Though I won the point I had to agree to return before nightfall.

The price of not having Enoch with me.

Day Three Hundred evening #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Enoch writes:

With nine days left, we hoped to catch up with Elijah before the sun set.

We knew his desire is to cover the whole city and that the seaport should be next. So, we wandered in that direction, alert for any sign of him.

He found us instead.

Elam was overjoyed. By nightfall we were breathing salt air.