Day Nine Hundred Seventy Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I had much to ponder as Elijah and I plodded along. What was left that would fit the description of Mei’s words? Perhaps Damascus? But we would not know anything from that quarter until we heard from Jezer and Reuben.

Somehow I don’t feel they are there.

I contented myself with interceding for the Purser and his family and their charges, wherever they might be.

Shortly after we came across a shepherd and his flock. The aged man told us a story about a large group of people away off deeper in the desert. Our excitement was squelched when he added they were in uniform.

The sighting was repeated by the next encounter, a traveling merchant.

What do we do?

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Day Nine Hundred Seventy Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We encountered no one today. Not even a lone sheep without its shepherd. Tomas returned to ask if we should head back into villages nearer the road.

At first, Elijah refused his suggestion for he believes our friends are held up somewhere in the desert.  But he at last relented and said if Tomas was moved to do so, he was free to go off on his own.

Tomas, hesitated, for he wanted us to go together. And stated he would be very reluctant to be out of contact with us.

I was touched by his love and concern, and took pains to assure him that nothing untoward was going to happen to any of us. Remember whose we are.

Day Five Hundred Sixteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

That melody discovered to us the sought after Hamashiachites. When I think of the teeming masses around us, I marvel that Elijah and I are now among these precious people.

We call them simply the Raj – again on account of our inability to reproduce their sentence long name. Three generations of a single family with almost as many members as letters in that name.

They confess they have been like sheep without a shepherd and rejoice to finally have direction and a purpose. (Through Elijah’s ministrations, of course).

And the benefit has been reciprocal in their willingness to look after our needs.

And wonder of wonders, the two youngest men have found work in a shipyard.

Tomorrow they take us.