Day One Thousand One Hundred Fifteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Everything has changed over night – for Tomas – for Elijah and myself. But especially for Tomas as to attitude. He is no longer swallowed up by doubt and indecision. He has grown in confidence that his place for now is here. And he knows with surety that he will be called away and has been given a sign upon which to wait.

This development, to my thinking, is all the more remarkable because the suspicions we have been harboring have been confirmed to him. The Supreme Commander, indeed, purposes to keep us with him.

As for Elijah and me, we now know our departure will be soon. And we will be leaving Tomas behind.

The prospect saddens me. Spirit, prepare us.

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Day Seven Hundred Twenty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The speck on the horizon has taken on a more recognizable form. Buildings spread out in a line, conforming, I surmise, to the presence of a river or some other feature out of our sight.

The Captain bubbles over with excitement at the prospect of fresh fruit. For he believes he sees groves of trees grouped around the approaches to the city.

Tomas stayed awake late last night smelting the gold from the satellite components. This morning he showed us the results of his labors – four small, shiny rectangles of the precious substance. One for each of us if we wanted to divide them up.

We will make a short day of it. We prefer to enter tomorrow in daylight.

Day Six Hundred Sixty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Dried up scrub characterizes the terrain we pass through. So all the more we are excited by the prospect of greenery in the distant valley. We should reach it tomorrow.

No doubt it will be refreshingly green, but I wonder for how long.

How long until it’s lushness gives way to the grayness that surrounds us here?

That question paled to nothing when the Captain reminded us that it’s been days since we last glimpsed the army to our south.

We know, per Tomas and later the ex-soldiers, that the warplanes did no damage to its viability.

Are they still behind us? Or have they gained or surpassed us?

I have a premonition that they must come through here.

Day Six Hundred Thirteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Tomas entertained us with tales of his adventures on the road before turning in. He found the conditions the same as reported by our neighbor. And no one bothered him.

We showed him the map to the other exile’s place and he recognized most of the landmarks therein. He was excited at the prospect of leading us there.

We intended to leave at first morning light and join the farmers in their daily movement to the city. However, come the dawn not only weren’t there any farmers and their produce heading to market, but the roads were clogged with columns of soldiers.

I pointed out the obvious conclusion – construction of the army camp must be complete.

We are waiting again.

Day Five Hundred Seventy Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Upon entering the harbor yesterday the Captain sounded the ship’s whistle. And Tomas again led an expedition ashore to find a mooring and to help in the process.

The new day found us settled in. And there were signs of life returning to the city.

Just the curious at first, but soon after some dock workers who went to fetch their bosses.

The main port official made ready to receive our cargo. He also informed us that refugees from the original terminus of our voyage have immigrated here, and are elated at the prospect of claiming their property.

Late in the day, Hans returned to his ship. Scared off, it is said, by stories about Elijah told by the crew.

Day Five Hundred Seventeen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The Raj twins, (for such they are), awakened us early and led us on a serpentine crawl across the face of the city. I would not like to make the trip any later.

Elijah reflected an unruffled demeanor upon entering the shipyard. I, by contrast, could not contain my excitement at the prospect of reuniting with the Captain and the crew of the ship.

Two vessels were on the stocks in the dry docks, but neither one was ours. The twins left us at the shipyard office to make our queries.

To our joy the Captain emerged from the office as we were climbing the stairs.

To our questions he gestured to the first in a line of waiting ships.

Day Five Hundred Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The trash from the slum is the refuse of the refuse. The slum grew up around the dumping ground of the well-to-do, and is minutely combed through by the slum’s denizens. What is left to be carted out, no guard would deign touch.

So, our friends covered Elijah and me with the most foul-smelling and messy collection of trash possible.

And thus we took our leave of the metropolis. And after cleaning up in a safe place and a change of clothes we were on our way again.

Elijah is confident that Jordan will bear much fruit to the glory of the One. And I am glad at the prospect of seeing our friends 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.