Elijah’s prediction came to pass. By late afternoon we stood in the city gates. All by ourselves.
We had noticed immediately this morning that the air overhead was free from man-made objects. And we climbed up from the riverside to the road to investigate the sudden outbreak of silence. There were no movements in either direction. No vehicles nor even pedestrians.
So, we passed through the formidable gateway, unopposed – except for the glare of the fantastical beasts (or demons) etched into the surface of the walls.
The gateway opened onto a large market area. Its stalls or shops all shuttered and again marked by the absence of people.
A long hike followed to the gigantic skyscraper selected by Elijah.