Day One Thousand One Hundred Sixteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Strange things mark this day. (None, however, were the sign to trigger Tomas’s departure).

The sun came up and promised to lend a cheeriness by its presence. But in its rise it did not dispel the darkness overhead. There were no clouds, but something hung there as if there were.

The blackness turned to a dark purple, that then lowered onto us like a fog of a similar hue.

It raised a great consternation among the guards, one of whom scurried about distributing gas masks. Forcing us to don them also.

Tomas swept in with word that nothing was toxic or otherwise harmful in the fog. Then took us back into the megapolis to be closer to the Supreme Commander.

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Day Seven Hundred Ninety Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

I confess there were tears in my eyes at our parting this morning. Our hugs were marked by whispered prayers for one another. Our parting, though real and painful, we know to be temporary in the greater balance of things. Our shared hope buoys us all.

I watched them as they and their groups disappeared in the west.

I was cheered by my belief that they were ready, especially Tomas and the Captain.

We had the road to ourselves all day. Nothing and no one crossed our view – on the ground or in the sky.

We shed our heavier garments as it warmed, only to put them on again at the sinking of the sun.

Our next destination- the Capital.

Day Seven Hundred Ninety Five #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

An earth-shattering cataclysm overshadows all else that happened to us today.

We had finally honed our co-ordination to such an extent that everyone was satisfied – and we were moving at a pace that was comfortable for all.

A flash of light, brighter than the sun caused us to look around for its source. Our starting point of the morning was far behind, and beyond that rise the flash was being replaced by a burgeoning column of smoke.

We knew in our hearts that the city on the prairie was no more.

Many in both groups wanted to turn back, but for the most part Mei and the Captain were successful in dissuading them.

Only a handful left us.

Day Seven Hundred Fifteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our path turned and we chased the sun in its movement westward.  We had intermittent views of the desert in the distance on the up cycles of our up and down progress.

But on one of those occasions something else was revealed – a village or hamlet sat astride our path a few ranges ahead. Wisps of smoke curled above it.

Tomas was all for running ahead to investigate. But we held him back for we judged it to be a couple days’ journey away.

As for the Captain he wanted to go around it altogether and not call attention to ourselves.

Elijah and I advised staying the course.

A hauntingly familiar melody played in my thoughts before sleep claimed me.

Day Six Hundred Twenty Eight #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We watched the progress of the sun all day on its arc from East to West.. In one sense we were not progressing for on our southward route we were at a standstill in regards to our desired direction.

Still no sign of the army. No columns of dust, nor distant sounds.

We were confident that we will steal the march on them and from here on out maintain a lead over them.

Elijah brought us to a halt when we were nearing the main road westward. He stood looking heavenward and like his actions so long ago in my presence, he raised his staff over his head and a flaming object fell out of the sky.

A spy satellite.

Day Six Hundred Twenty #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The sun arose unopposed by clouds. It grew warmer each passing minute.

We bid goodbye to our neighbor, thanking him for the cool draft of water his friendship had been to us.

But we had gotten no further than the crossroads when a squad of soldiers blocked our way. Their leader recognized Elijah and ordered his men to arrest him.

Elijah took one step towards them and they fell backward to the ground. Their leader raised a weapon and Elijah merely breathed in his direction.

He was incinerated before our eyes, the flames spreading to the others as they arose to oppose us.

The Captain led the way from there.

Finding the camp empty we pushed on in their wake.

My Friend Mr. Sun

For a couple of reasons lately, Mr. Sun has occupied a good deal of real estate in our consciousnesses. The chief reason being the heatwave of many days duration up here in the Pacific Northwest.

Here he is lurking somewhere outside my “office” where I do most of my writing.

Here he playfully casts shadows on the wall behind me. (Entertaining to me – it was a moving image!)

Then there was an eclipse of Mr. Sun by Mr. Moon back on 8/21. Though we were outside the path of totality, we did see most of his surface blocked out, and felt the temperature drop. (Here a couple of my grandkids play after viewing the eclipse. They were bored, and found it more fun to play).

Then recently his color has deepened to a blood-red orange, due to the many forest fires in the surrounding area.

I don’t want to seem ungrateful for all this nice weather, Mr. Sun (and hint that you’ve over stayed your welcome), but I am getting a little nostalgic for the rain.

Day Six Hundred One #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah communed with the Spirit today. He went out to do so. He wandered about the causeways towards the city side of our dwelling. And out of view of the guards.

We kept an eye on him. And on the guards as well.

They scrutinized each passerby and stopped each and every cart, searching them thoroughly. But most of the time they stood about in the hot sun.

To his credit the Captain wanted to take some water to them. However, neither Tomas nor I thought that prudent for him.

Instead I took some out myself.

They eyed my approach suspiciously, but relaxed when they saw the water.

They said simply they had a sufficient supply, enough until their relief.

Day Five Hundred Ninety Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The sun gave promise of burning through the fog by the late hours of the morning.  And indeed were dispelled the minute that the transport service official stepped onto the deck.

Much to the relief it seemed to the local denizens, whom we at last saw milling about in the sun.

Elijah and I took it as our cue to stay out of sight.

The official asked the Captain if he would continue with the ship. As this would require taking the mark, he declined. So did Tomas.

Mr. Kagi spoke up and volunteered himself for consideration. The official was noncommittal and went off to canvass the crew.

He left word that those not staying needed to depart by tomorrow.

Day Five Hundred Ninety Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Fog has settled over the area and unlike with the mysterious darkness, we know there is a sun somewhere up there. This, however, has not led to a change in attitude on the part of the denizens towards us.

The Captain went ashore (Mr. Kagi in tow) to initiate the handover of the ship.

In their absence, a robotic warship paid a call. And Tomas directed the transfer of the two deck containers to that craft.

The silence surrounding it was simply eerie.

Upon the return of Mr. Kagi and the Captain, we learned the fate of the ship. About the time we finish unloading Mr. Kagi’s possessions tomorrow, the global transport service official will arrive here to assume command.