It has become evident that the army patrol from the checkpoint is not on a routine sweep. Otherwise they would have turned back with the onset of night.
I can only think that since we sometimes have them in view, they must likewise see us, despite our conscious efforts to shield our movements.
Thankfully they show no signs of gaining on us. Elijah quickened his pace during those times when we were blocked from view. With the result that the time between sightings lengthened.
And in one of these blind troughs we headed away from our destination, and we hoped from our pursuers too.
That’s when we ran into the man who had accosted us down on the main road.