Day Seven Hundred Eighteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

All aspects of our situation are providential in the extreme. A day later and we would have missed G and his charges altogether.

One of the men with him had been one of those raised up from a sickbed by Elijah in that hospital in the seaport so long ago. He is from this area and had lead them to the safety of the compound. And he lead the way towards our next destination somewhere off to the north.

Without his help and his knowledge of the surrounding territory we would have completely missed the unmarked path that branches off the main trail where we now stand after our trek down from the mountains.

We made our goodbyes and parted.

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Day Three Hundred Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We are content for now to rest where we are. The seaport bustles with ships coming and going at all hours.  Our vessel is still dockside taking on cargo. We will join her four days from now, and should be offshore on the city’s last day.

Stan intends to keep us here.

He has changed the guard, and even added more to their number.

Elijah thinks Stan has noted our reluctance to harm anyone, and therefore more and more is assigning younger guards to us.

I think they are still puzzled about how Elam and I escaped their custody.  And I wonder if that woman forfeited her life in consequence.

They have no idea of the power of the Spirit.

Day Three Hundred evening #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Enoch writes:

With nine days left, we hoped to catch up with Elijah before the sun set.

We knew his desire is to cover the whole city and that the seaport should be next. So, we wandered in that direction, alert for any sign of him.

He found us instead.

Elam was overjoyed. By nightfall we were breathing salt air.

Day Three Hundred late morning #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah writes:

Spent the night watching the activity swirling around the administration building. A curious sight. I suspected Enoch and Elam are no longer their guests. I waylaid one of the guards and made him talk. He confirmed it.

Returned to our last quarters. Still an empty ruin.

Decided to continue on to the seaport.

Hope to find them there.

Day Two Hundred Ninety Seven late morning #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah writes:

Nothing but hard cases up until now. Dull of ear and mind.

I persevere despite the magnitude of the opposition. I know I am buoyed by the intercession of Enoch. My prayers go with him and Elam.

Now I am inching towards the seaport area and there is a noticeable change in the look and feel of everything.

Day Two Hundred Ninety Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I left a note for Elam. Just with the thought that if he were able to free himself, he might come back here.

Given where we have to be before the next fifteen days elapse and what Elijah wants to accomplish in the next week, we took a swing through the affluent sector from the opposite end, proclaiming the warning at each step.

In short order we completed our task there and moved on into virgin territory on our slow march to the seaport.

I kept an eye pealed for a place for us to head quarter in while we plan our next steps in the neighboring sectors.

While doing so, I am sure I saw that woman shadowing us.

Day Two Hundred Ninety Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We backtracked today, heading away from the seaport, all the way to Sy’s parents’ house. They had left me their keys and the invitation to replenish our supplies as we have need, and as long as they last.

Heavy rains swept the streets clear well before our arrival. We are reasonably certain that no one followed or saw us go in.

It felt good to be in and out of the drench and with the opportunity to rest and dry off.

We spent time together with the Spirit, petitioning for Elam’s well-being, and for his rescue.

And we also heard that we need to be at the seaport within eight days, or half way through this city’s final days.

Day Two Hundred Eighty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elam has taken on the role as our protector, now that he no longer conducts groups out of the city. He has us ensconced in another empty building on the side of the city towards the seaport. The seaport will be our destination before the culmination of the next twenty one days.

Elijah discussed with me the mysterious woman hovering behind the city leader the other day. He too has the sense there is more to her than meets the eye. This Elam confirms. He spotted her watching us on the street today. He tells us she is the personal representative of the young man we know as Stan. Word is he is out of country, but is returning soon.

Day Two Hundred Eighty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Acting on Elam’s urging, we did not return to the garden square last night. Instead he led us to an empty building on the side of the city nearer the seaport.

It was a relatively quiet night. The only noise drifted in from the government sector where some kind of rally was transpiring.

When we passed through the area this morning the streets were littered with bottles and syringes. Not a person in sight.

Elam gathered up his group from Sy’s father’s house, and we finally persuaded him to leave with them. It will be the last.

Elijah and I checked our spot in the square. Elam guessed right. Someone paid a call last night.

Twenty two days and counting.

Day Two Hundred Seventy Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Sy’s parents had been wary before admitting us, explaining that people who spend nights in the square are unsavory characters – molesters, drunkards, robbers – all around reprobates (their description). They keep locked up tight nights.

They offered us a place to stay as long as we want.

We thanked them, but Elijah countered by telling them that we are here to get them out and back to their son.

Our offer was met with frigid silence.

When the father spoke it was with adamant absoluteness. He will never leave. I saw the same resolve in the mother’s eyes.

We turned our talk to other things – of the denizens, their rulers, and the seaport beyond.

We hope they will change their minds.