The Fairy Diary Day 130 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Merlin took me aside last night and we talked at great length about the tasks before us. He, indeed, was fully aware of the gathering in of iron for use against the Faerie Kingdom. He promises to seize the huge deposit we told him about and will stay in touch with the High Fairy if we discover any more. 

About our road ahead he could grant us no insight. He then hushed his voice and revealed he is being watched and must be very circumspect wherever he goes. 

These things occupied my thoughts as we walked along the road deeper into the human territory. I kept them to myself not wanting to spoil the cheerful mood among my companions. 

Though I must share them soon, especially the dark secret Merlin gleaned from the Wisp and has kept from all except me. 

I must wait for the proper time.

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The Fairy Diary Day 128 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

I find traveling on this empty road – which should be swarming with people – more eerie than the battlefield populated by the dead. We pass meadows and glens and pastures and woodlands. Picturesque and fetching. Highly desirable for any group of fairies to settle in. And perhaps in the past there may well have been fairy habitations here among the humans. (Rumble has found mysterious hints of such in a few of the histories he consulted). 

Even Dunfallon hangs back a bit to stay in line of sight with us, so I know he’s a little nervous himself. 

Rumble feels we should come to the first post or fort early tomorrow. So we will soon have some decisions to make. 

If nothing untoward occurs.

Day One Thousand Two Hundred Twenty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We found the road unencumbered by patrols or checkpoints until we neared the area of the stone bridge. Well before then, Tomas guided us up to the level above the destroyed altar.

Though still in ruins people were hard at work attempting to make it serviceable. All the more ugly.

Mr. Kagi was the first to notice. Then I recognized the people being forced to work on the edifice – the prisoners paraded through the world government camp but a few days ago.

After a quick calculation in my head (and my memory of the shape of last night’s moon) I knew that tomorrow marks the return of the new moon.

My blood ran cold over the fate of these prisoners.

Day One Thousand Two Hundred Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We have had no sightings of any troops in pursuit of us. Nor, thankfully, any sign that any adversaries are aware of our presence.

There have been some patrols on this road, but Tomas pulled us from view well in advance of any danger.

Tomas tells us that tomorrow we shall alter course to the south and Babylon. All Elijah advises at this time is that we stay on the high ground as in our other journeys and avoid descending into the plain until absolutely necessary.

I hiked beside the Captain and we conversed. It has been an age since we have spent any time sharing the details of our lives. He too feels an urgency to help Mr. Kagi.

Day One Thousand Two Hundred Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

What we had long expected came to pass today. An army unit, perhaps a relief column, appeared on the road leading up to the redoubt.

Elijah decided it was time to leave. And time for us to part company.

Sy and Reuben with their men set out for the heights. From there they will trace their way back to the hiding place. On Elijah’s order Mawuli was placed in their hands. And they had to bodily restrain him.

Elijah and I took to the road that goes over the stone bridge, accompanied by Tomas and the Captain.

I have a strong feeling that we shall continue on to Babylon. Poor Mr. Kagi has been much in my thoughts of late.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Seventy One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We took turns through the night watching the prison. No one reported signs of seeing anyone – no prisoners, no guards, no deliveries, (even by drone).

Those contraptions and birds were all that moved. And always passing overhead on their way to somewhere else. And if any bird dropped down to roost it was only momentary.

So, this morning Elijah rose and boldly went down into the road and walked into the prison. No one and nothing stopped us. From top to bottom it was empty.

Magwich was at a total loss. And could not understand why what he had seen with his own eyes proved to be false.

Elijah announced that we would return to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.

Day One Thousand Eighty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Off and on we caught views of the megapolis from the lower elevation of the riverbed upon which we have been traveling. Not much has changed from the memory I carry of Babylon when we skirted around it on our escape out of the citadel. The skyscraper that came down on that occasion has not been replaced. A great void in the skyline marks its absence.

Our forward progress ground to a halt where the water filled the riverbed from bank to bank, forcing us up and out into the open.

It was more water than we have seen in an age.

And its level appeared to be rising as we watched.

Elijah decided we must make for the road.

Day One Thousand Sixty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah gathered us together after breakfast. The general expectation prevailed that he would announce our departure immediately. All the more so since Elam’s revelation that he too had been given a vision of a rising tide of blood.

But Elijah caught us off balance. Though he concurs that our group is now complete, he does not agree that it is time to leave.

He has called for another fast and that it is to commence tomorrow when we set out on to the road eastward. We shall halt on the stone bridge and there hold a vigil and await a sign.

We then passed the day in preparation both physically and spiritually.

And Mei cheerfully lent a hand to all.

Day One Thousand Fifty Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Sy’s distress was relieved this afternoon by the appearance of Elam down on the road. On foot, no tanker truck.

After our greetings he related to us his harrowing experiences of the last few days. No sooner had he driven into the staging area, when he was forcefully removed and placed in confinement, charged with profiteering.

While there he learned about the clashes far to the east. The forces nearby were forming up the last ditch defense.

Things became so confusing that Elam was able to escape (he credits Hamashiach).

While passing through the furious activity he saw Stan and his motorcade headed east.

From the road last night he witnessed the air assault from the east and its destruction.

Day One Thousand Fifty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah and I went for a walk. First up to the heights to look around. Elijah scanned the view, paying attention to the road that runs to the East.

We then came down and struck out in the direction upon which we had mutually agreed. As we climbed away from the redoubt, I noticed Elijah was making heavy use of his staff. We stopped frequently so he could catch his breath.

Cresting the ridge and descending the other side, he picked up the pace. We halted on a stone bridge that spanned a dry stream bed.

One look at a path that ran beside the stream bed and we knew we had found the way to the plain far below.