Day Four Hundred Seventy Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

While the small boats were transporting the cargo, Elijah hopped a ride to visit the village. I kept count of the items to ensure nothing was missed.

The Captain accompanied the last boat this morning to collect payment and to retrieve Elijah. The Captain confirmed Tomas’ guess as to the future use of the tin and bauxite. The village is merely a way station on its journey to a manufacturing facility.

In his tours of the outskirts, Elijah noticed that camel caravans were coming and going hourly. They will no doubt be the next mode of transport for that shipment.

Elijah also told me that there were absolutely no followers of Hamashiach in the village.
This saddened him very much.

Advertisement

Day Four Hundred Seventy One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

When Tomas joined me on my afternoon watch, he was expecting our imminent arrival at the next destination.

During the ensuing wait he floated a guess as to the purpose of our latest shipment. He believes they are meant for use in the manufacture of satellite communication equipment. Word was circulating in some recent ports of call that the world government was looking to re-establish the global networks.

Although neither Elijah nor I had heard any mention of this in our travels, it certainly seemed reasonable.

But when the Captain passed word that we had arrived, the sight of the small village before us seemed to belie that notion. Again small boats were utilized to transport the goods ashore.

Day Four Hundred Fifty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

A tug chugged out early to the roads where we three vessels were waiting for entry. We were surprised to see that each vessel received two men from the tug. The mystery was cleared up come time to receive our own charges. One was a pilot, the other was a political officer representing the world government.

The latter made it very clear that we could not enter and conduct any business unless negotiated by someone bearing the mark.

The Captain countered that we were not desirous of entering for any purposes of commerce, but rather only delivering a shipment to the city’s governor from his sister city on the island.

This stymied the duo. They returned to port for instructions.

Day Three Hundred Fifty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Upon stepping onto the bridge, we were greeted by the Purser, not the Captain. He had stood watch the entire night, and was beside himself about the prolonged absence.

He was at the point of deputizing me to take the watch and dragging Elijah along with him in search, when the Captain was returned under armed guard.

His countenance was combustible, but he calmed down enough to give us a rundown. Because the First Mate bears the mark he has been given undisputed claim to the grain ship, and because the Captain won’t take the mark we are being expelled with these guards to accompany the shipment.

But the Captain swears that he won’t leave without a new first mate.