Day Nine Hundred Twenty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our transit today was a little more adventurous to my taste than usual. We had not travelled too far yesterday. Only far enough to emerge from the wilderness surrounding the hiding place.

Come mid morning we attained the road but soon became uncomfortable under the gaze of so many police patrols. We decided to veer off into less travelled tracks, but we found patrols operating there also.

Thankfully Elijah always sensed their presence before they came into view, and so far we have had  cover to shield us from notice. Especially from the occasional drone.

In those times in which we had to wait, Elijah would point out to me the landmarks and sights, familiar to him from long ago.

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Day Eight Hundred Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Stan could not have been more wrong. And we were content not to disabuse him of his mistaken notion. Not that he left us any means to communicate that back to him. Unless, of course, he had some kind of “eyes” on us. In which case he might guess at the reason behind our unconcern.

For what would he make of the fact our staying the night? Or that we took our ease and went on walks around the megapolis seeing the sights and taking the measure of our adversary?

For as in other places we’ve been through, his image was everywhere, wreathed in honor and pomp.

Very sad, really. Such an immense pride shall surely have a great fall.

Day Six Hundred Sixty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It was strange to see other human beings going about everyday tasks. Such sights seem like forever ago.

We have entered the valley which we found dotted with small farms, and a town or small city rises from its center.

Much of the activity hereabouts deals with bringing water up from the river.

The Captain discovered why. The irrigation ditches are empty, the river being too low to feed them.

My concern grew. What would be their reaction if they knew Elijah was responsible?

We pushed on into the town. And there found an inn.

We plan to stay a few days, as Elijah has now told us he plans to end his fast in four days.

He needs rest.

Day Three Hundred Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Almost too much has happened today for me to write about.

And the sights I was witness to crowd out all else.

The storm clouds have moved on, leaving behind them a new reality.

The great city is no more. Its structures razed down to ground level – and below. The deepest depression appears to be in the area of the administration building. And there is no movement, of man or beast across the landscape. No fires burn and no smoke fills the air above. Silence only spreads its wings, flushing out the sighing of the wind.

Elijah and I returned aft to our cabin in the superstructure of the vessel, as the ship’s engines rumbled the deck beneath our feet.

Day Two Hundred Sixty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Contact.

What I had hoped would not come to pass this early, did.

Earlier than expected, much earlier than I wanted.

We had set our sights on the bridge with the high towers and directed our steps accordingly. Elijah sheltered underneath its span when he first came to this city, and before he moved to the bridge under which I discovered him. He thinks it a good starting point this time too.

We had just turned onto the boulevard that crosses this bridge when we were hailed by the leader of a patrol.

Elijah led us boldly forward to answer their challenge. We were immediately surrounded and told to come with them.

Elijah said no.

Fire fell. They were consumed.