Day One Thousand Two Hundred Thirty Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We depended upon Mawuli to lead us around to one of the last remaining approaches to the hiding place. Besides the difficulty of negotiating the terrain of the route he had another problem to deal with.

Small groups of soldiers kept impeding our forward movement. It was apparent these men were no longer organized patrols, and all were moving in one direction. Up to Jerusalem.

We were halted waiting for one such group to pass, when Mawuli led a guest back to us.

We crowded around Mei, overjoyed to see her.

Then it fell to me to break the news of the deaths of the Captain and Tomas.

Hiding tears she put on a brave face and led us in.

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Day One Thousand Two Hundred One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Mei and Jezer along with Lung and the former soldiers of the army of the East have left for the hiding place. We embraced and sent them out with our prayers.

Of interest was the noticeable thinning in numbers of the world government army on the vast plain below. All movement from there has been towards the conflicts raging out of sight in the direction of Babylon. No one has come up to inspect the redoubt nor inquire after the goings on here.

For now Reuben and Sy will remain. Elijah and I and the Captain and Tomas intend to be here when the armies clash in the valley. We wanted Mawuli to go with Mei, but he won’t budge.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Ninety Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Everything has turned out for the best.  Though right in the midst of events, I confess, I had my doubts. I thought I was witnessing a repeat of when we lost Magwich and his group.

Tomas did not lead Mei and her group up here. I call it Mei’s group because she lead the assault. Supported by Lung and the others – Tomas, the Captain, Jezer and several former soldiers, she overwhelmed all in her path. Watching the resistance of their adversaries melt away before their onslaught was amazing.

They soon had Mawuli by their side. Mei gave him his sling and he stoned his tormentors.

Elijah stood out in plain view and called down fire to consume the high place.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Forty One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Reuben was the one who discovered the cave. He said afterwards that it was as though he was pulled into it. And I marvel that he did, for no way was the entrance visible from the path below on which we were fleeing.

And we gained its safety none too soon for otherwise the swarm of drones would have overtaken us.

And here we have stayed put through the night and all of today.  Reuben was restless and made frequent forays to take a peek around. He reported the movement of soldiers in the distance, happily, headed in the wrong direction, but was shaken to his core the last time when he spotted Moglen standing nearby, watching in silence, alone.

Day One Thousand Ninety Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

All the other members of our group concur, even those who feel their purpose on this mission has been fulfilled. This despite other factors that mitigate against our continued presence here in Babylon.

We had two such encounters yesterday on our outing. Elijah learned that an internment camp for world government soldiers was nearby and asked our guard to take us there.

The guard was reluctant and after more persuasion gave in. Afterwards he exuded an air of vindication having been forced to rescue us from assaults aimed at Elijah, “the great Disturber of the nations.”

Mawuli said it was much the same treatment meted out to the group led by his parents on their journey to the promised land.

Day One Thousand Seventy Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Mawuli accompanied Sy on a side trip to check out a well. They found it easily enough, but so had an army unit. In fact, it looked to be a more or less permanent arrangement.

From what they could tell water was present, just no way to get to it. Tire tracks run to and from the site, and the soldiers looked to be expecting something – probably a tanker truck.

Sy could make out no flag or other designation that would tell us whose they are. Though who they are made little difference to our next decision. For we chose to avoid them and agreed to press further from our current path to another well Sy believes he alone knows.

Day One Thousand Twenty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We are across. I feel as if I were swept up in a whirlwind. It all happened so fast.

The road was still throttled with traffic when Elijah turned to me and said that it was time. He directed me to summon the others.

I was glad for those dry runs.

When I arrived back at the relay point, Reuben already had his people alert and prepared to move.

Time seemed to standstill as we raced back to our waiting friends.

Elijah was then in the middle of an empty road holding aloft his staff, and commanding us to cross.

Quasimo met us on the other side and guided us around a platoon of sleeping soldiers.

Soon we ourselves rested.

Day Nine Hundred Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Meesa and Mei surprised us by entering the refuge in the wee hours of the morning. And it was very propitious for all concerned.

They brought intelligence about a movement of soldiers in the area of our planned transit. She counseled holding off our starting time to allow them to pass through ahead of us.

This we did. And we also broke up into smaller groups taking advantage of these unexpected extra guides.

Elijah and I called Tomas and the Captain in, to once again go over our route, in light of a few tweaks suggested by Meesa.

We held back while Meesa set off with the first group. Then in measured intervals Tomas – Mei – and the Captain.

Lastly us.

Day Eight Hundred Ninety Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

It happened much as Elijah planned.

We entered Jerusalem with the morning crowds. And made our way to its heart. There were depictions of Stan on every side. Much nicer than the paper posters we’d seen to date.

And soldiers stood guard on every street, scrutinizing every passerby.

In fact, one left his post to follow us. Elijah took the attention in stride. I moved to keep myself between the two. And to shield Elijah.

We emerged onto the Temple court and there Elijah announced to the multitudes the continuation of the drought. And closed his announcement with the promise of its deepening.

A great roar of anger arose.

And the guard made to seize us, but we were gone.

Day Eight Hundred Fifty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We planned to let a whole day pass before setting off on the road to Damascus. Neither of us wanted to overtake Jezer and fall into his company.

We had just collected ourselves together when an army truck rolled up to the well and accosted us. They couldn’t understand us and we couldn’t understand them.

The man in charge searched us, then dismissed us in disgust. They remounted and sped away north.

The way ahead looked much the same as our route from the south, more rock cliffs channeling our path.

I fell into a discussion with Elijah about our former guest.  I supposed that the soldiers were in pursuit of him.

Elijah nodded and said, “His mark was false.”