Day Five Hundred Forty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We began our plan’s implementation today. First, I paid a quick visit to the ship to ask the Captain’s permission to bring aboard the Hamashiachite contingent. Upon my assurances that none carried the plague, he whole-heartedly approved, and I returned to Elijah with his blessing.

Second, Elijah briefed these people fully in the steps they are to take to fulfill their role in the end of days. The ship shall deliver them to the next port down the coast. There they shall gather other Hamashiachites and set out for their long journey.

From the noon hour onward, we sent these dear people out by twos and threes to the docks.

By day’s end we were all safely aboard ship.

Advertisement

Day Five Hundred Forty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our hosts had much to explain. They made it a condition before our entry.

We sent G back to the ship with word that we would be spending the night ashore, and with the additional message to the Captain that Elijah and I would ship out with him come the end of the week.

The long and short of it is, the hospital has few patients left, all of them Hamashiachites, brave souls who tended the sick. Their entire community is tolerated only if they remain secluded for they are blamed for the coming of the plague.

First thing this morning Elijah entered the wards and raised the ill from their sickbeds.

We then gathered together to discuss the future.

Day Five Hundred Forty Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah and I went ashore to follow up the lead that P brought to us yesterday. I was struck by how few people were walking about – given the size of the buildings and the sprawl of the city in all directions, there should have been a teeming population everywhere we turned.

It went a long way to explain the man power shortages down at the port.

And our arrival at the city hospital answered the other question we hadn’t thought to ask. Why?

P had heard that this hospital was run by some followers of Hamashiach. And so it proved to be true.

We were not allowed in, but they came out to us.

Thus we learned about the plague.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It took the better part of this day to clear the wide-ranging obstacle and we are now back on a southerly course.

Elijah tells me that the crew is quite upset over the recent developments. They have taken to blaming the missing government official (Stan) for everything. And avoid his former cabin like the plague.

The Purser caught an earful and passed their objections on to the Captain. I accompanied him when he went forward to see things for himself and to calm his men. He became alarmed when he could not open the cabin in question. He sent for his machinist mate to evaluate the problem.

At that point I felt I was in the way and left.