Day Nine Hundred Seventy Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We decided that we had to keep to our original plan to meet up with Tomas tomorrow. Between what we have heard and what he may have learned we should have a better basis for our next step.

We did not have any encounters today, except at a distance. A very large flock of sheep was grazing beside a stream under the gaze of several shepherds. We would have passed through their midst but a flash of light followed by a fireball and the sound of an explosion over the horizon in the direction of the road, sent the flock into a panic.

Then, while two boys saw to the sheep, the rest of the shepherds rushed towards the road.

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Day Eight Hundred Twenty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

His tribal home, that is. The shepherds were members of his clan. But unlike his immediate family they had not left in the Glorious appearing. They had been scoffers then, and were still. They just wanted to be left alone. So much so that they even refused the mark.

Quasimo welcomed the opportunity to answer their questions. And they were full of them. And in each instance his answers always came around again to his testimony to what he had seen and heard. But nothing he said or showed them convinced them, not even the fact that he no longer bore the mark in his person.

For all of their rough edges they were hospitable, especially to Elijah and myself.

Day Eight Hundred Twenty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We learned the reason behind Quasimo’s choice of yesterday.

The ‘goat track’ kept on through the expanse, meandering from wadi to wadi. Well out of sight of the road. Though we were still aware of its presence by the rumble from the tanker trucks.

Elijah and I were delighted to pass the heat of the day by a well, situated beside the pastoral path. The water was fresh and sweet to the taste.

In the space of our short time there, we were joined briefly by shepherds stopping to water their flocks.

Quasimo knew one of the shepherds and from their conversation we could tell each was pleased with what the other had to say.

Afterwards, Quasimo took us home.