Day Seven Hundred Eighty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We waited until mid morning to set out and put Elijah’s plan into motion. It took those earlier hours to sort out and stabilize the situation in the hunter villages, reeling from the power vacuum created by the loss of their leader.

His overall unpopularity among his own people made a realignment of relationships among the rings of villages easier to negotiate.

We left Mei and Tomas behind to continue organizing. The Captain accompanied us again at his insistence. (I was concerned that his motivation wasn’t what it should be, but Elijah said to let him come anyway).

Soon after we arrived at the entrance to the city, the head of the tribunal rushed to meet us.

His attitude submissive.

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Day Seven Hundred Seventy Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our hosts who accepted us into their village are refugees from the East and thus have an affinity to Mei. Indeed, we learned that most of the inhabitants on the rings of villages are new to the area, but unacceptable and kept out of the sprawling city. Only the hunters, having been here longer are allowed into the city. And that for trade only.

That intelligence set off warning bells in my head, and I made the case to Elijah that we waste no time in going to the city.

But Elijah was not persuaded. He confirmed that we would indeed enter the city. Just not yet.

Instead he wants to explore the reason behind these people’s reaction to him.

Day Seven Hundred Seventy Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We took the Captain’s usual advice and gave wide berth to the hunters’ village. Yet time after time Tomas had to adjust our way again as village after village cropped up across our path.

The whole process moved us steadily away from our desired compass point.

Finally, Tomas brought us all atop one hillock to see rings of villages between us and a city at the edge of the prairie.

I looked to Elijah and he nodded.

I knew this city was our next stop. But then we debated how to get there.

Did we dare enter one of these villages? They were more than likely responsible for the attack we had overheard.

And had they driven out the Hamashiachites?