Day One Thousand Fifty Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Jordan had taken a long time to get his people into Galilee.  Months had passed hiding out from the army of the East, looking and praying for an opportunity and a way through the lines of that vast army. Finally they skirted around its northern flank, just before that direction was closed by another army coming from the North.

His tale, also told to Sy, is why the latter is reluctant to leave. He feels his destiny lies here.

So this morning we have agreed. Raj P will take Jordan and his people on to the hiding place. And Quasimo shall take Sy’s people there.

Sy shall remain with us, for his vision matches exactly the dream given to me.

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Day Eight Hundred Twenty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

His tribal home, that is. The shepherds were members of his clan. But unlike his immediate family they had not left in the Glorious appearing. They had been scoffers then, and were still. They just wanted to be left alone. So much so that they even refused the mark.

Quasimo welcomed the opportunity to answer their questions. And they were full of them. And in each instance his answers always came around again to his testimony to what he had seen and heard. But nothing he said or showed them convinced them, not even the fact that he no longer bore the mark in his person.

For all of their rough edges they were hospitable, especially to Elijah and myself.

Day Seven Hundred Forty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Waited all day for an opportunity to talk to Tomas alone. I would have accompanied him on one of his jaunts, but didn’t want to leave Elijah and the Captain without my support. Lung has been outwardly calm, yet I can tell agitation is festering just below the surface. Every step is taking us further and further away from his unit. If only he would talk to Elijah again. Lung has been avoiding him ever since the glacier.

Thankfully, Tomas brought word of another path branching off this one. He is certain it will take Lung back down. If not to the lake, at least to the desert.

I also decided to put off my talk with Tomas until tomorrow.

Day Six Hundred Sixty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We have made the transition from travelers by night back to daytime beings. The days are hot but not blistering.

Our trail and the river lead to a broad valley that we can just glimpse from each rise we crest.

The up and down nature of the track took its toll on Elijah. The upward legs were trying for everyone. But very noticeable in his case. The Captain was ever at his elbow.

Elijah chose our stopping place for tonight – on one of the downward slopes which has access to the river. So we took the opportunity to refill our water supplies.

There is something familiar about the lay of the land hereabouts. Something that harkens back to my youth.

Day Six Hundred Fifty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We settled into the new camp with the intent to stay a while. Elijah cannot pass up any opportunity to build people up spiritually. I concurred.

We learned that though they have been branded deserters, they repudiate that label arguing that they had not enlisted but rather had been forced conscripts.

They feel thankful, however, for the experience. One after the other told me that they never would have encountered Yeshua otherwise.

To a man they desire to return to their villages. And have remained in this place while deciding their course of action.

It is clear that to do so, they shall have to return via the caravan trail.

Elijah wants them to collect their people and move west.

Day Five Hundred Ninety #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

No one liked the look of the sky today as we set sail.  It was dark and menacing.

Mr. Kagi haunted the bridge, hovering over each and every decision made by either the Captain or Tomas. And almost precipitated an incident by his insistence that we ignore a directive from the warship to halt.

The Captain sensibly put him in his place.

Thus, we received aboard three more passengers- two guards and their charge, the Raj twin P. We are to deliver them with our cargo.

Thankfully P is not being held under close arrest. So Elijah and I will be allowed to meet with him as long as at least one guard is present.

We will take every opportunity.

Day Five Hundred Twenty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The crew is scared witless. Elijah has been sharing with them portents of future events. He did temper his vision with reasons to hope, but they have only been able to focus on the downside. I took every opportunity to share with them out of our experience about how that hope is real and has the power to see us through anything.

I passed part of my time today with P to instruct him in the duties of a purser. (Yes, he has been approved for the position by all concerned). He has asked a lot of questions – always a good sign. I encourage him to ask more, as it gives me the best insight into what I should teach.

Day Four Hundred Ninety Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah made a brief foray into the busy streets of the metropolis last evening, just to get oriented. I took the opportunity for some alone time with the Spirit.

A good thing. Otherwise I would not have been open to Elijah’s proposal this morning that we spend a few days here searching for followers of Hamashiach. I would have much rather been pressing onward to our rendezvous with the ship. But the Spirit has made it very clear we are not yet released to continue on our trek.

There is a great hubbub everywhere. The people are resettling back into their homes after an absence. And everywhere you turn representatives of the world government are facilitating and controlling it.

Day Four Hundred Eighty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah won’t be dissuaded. He plans to go on shore at the earliest opportunity.

Our ship has been waiting in the roads all day. The Captain has been giving the authorities a series of excuses as to why we haven’t left yet. Any longer and their patience will be used up.

Neither of us can swim that far, and Elijah doesn’t want to show off by walking in from here.

Tomas thinks our only option would be to go on to the next port and perhaps we will be allowed to land there.

Elijah and I drew apart to discuss that option. Neither one of us felt that was the answer.
We climbed to the highest point on the ship.

Day Four Hundred Thirty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

A tantalizing sight within our prospect, the island’s port city in its glass and steel grandeur, but at the same time we are sobered by the zig-zagging coastline between us and it. It goes on forever and ever.

I take the opportunity here and there to push in off of the beach to look for any means by which to scale to the heights above us.

I returned from one such foray to an excited Elijah. He had spotted a ship underway off the coast. A ship that he is certain is the one that carried us across the other ocean.

It seems more important than ever that we find a way up the cliffs that hem us in.