Day One Thousand Two Hundred Eighteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We no longer have a reason to go onward to Babylon. For the Spirit has delivered Mr. Kagi to us. Leastways as it seems to our understanding.

But we had much discussion on this point after Mr. Kagi and Elijah’s disciples filled us in on the situation there.

According to Mr. Kagi the coalition of the armies of the East and North will need to act soon while they have the supplies and the strength.

The desalination plants in Babylon have been reduced to rubble. Though possessing a huge reserve they want to advance and capture their enemy’s before theirs is consumed.

Elijah’s disciples believe that the time is imminent and they desire to depart before their armies flood in.

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Day One Thousand Two Hundred Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Mawuli has been deeply effected by his ordeal. The windows to his soul are filled with a vacancy that hurts others to see. It is for the best that he was not sent back to his parents in the hiding place. For now.

Elijah has taken him aside to seek his healing.

Sy has taken stock of supplies here in the redoubt. We can easily hold up for a month, barring other circumstances.

Tomas and Reuben scouted further east, going well beyond the stone bridge. They encountered no opposition.

The mouth to the valley is heavily garrisoned. And a lot of traffic flowed back and forth in the direction of Babylon.

Before resting I looked in on Elijah  and Mawuli.

Day Six Hundred Fifty Seven #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The camp is in disarray this morning. We had some unwanted visitors over the night. A swarm of drones descended upon our position  and attacked.

We believe we brought them all down. Either from the rifle fire from our new friends, or from the fierce ire of Elijah when provoked.

Tomas and I combed through the aftermath to be sure nothing was still operable that might give away our position.

There were no casualties among us. The only damage has been to some tents and their contents – supplies and equipment.

Still, it is obvious that we shall have to part company sooner than anyone had planned, or wanted.

Elijah took the chief soldier aside for instruction while we made preparations.

Day Six Hundred Twenty Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Another brilliant blue day. We’ve made good headway and have come abreast of certain units of the army, left in the rear for some reason or reasons. Probably to recruit or coerce conscripts as Tomas has conjectured, or see to the supplies needed by the army at large.

We decided to keep our distance. To observe and not be observed.

The Captain reported that a narrow valley lies ahead and believes that the army’s progress will be greatly slowed. This impacts the schedule that Elijah had in mind. Since the lead elements are now in that area, we may have to wait until after they have all passed through. Meaning we will have to hold up somewhere on this side.

Day Three Hundred Ninety Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elijah sent me out today to stock up on some supplies for our departure, which he believes will be soon.

Prices were noticeably higher than when the market was filled with merchants. So I wasn’t in a hurry to purchase anything. At the time I remember thinking that I would advise Elijah that we hold off until the next big market day.

I did buy a few necessities, and was about to leave when a riverboat put in and landed some passengers.

Curious, I stayed to look on. One figure stood out from the rest. Whereas most left the riverfront and dispersed, he went into the inn where we first stayed. It was the young man with a beard, Stan.

Day Two Hundred Ninety Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We backtracked today, heading away from the seaport, all the way to Sy’s parents’ house. They had left me their keys and the invitation to replenish our supplies as we have need, and as long as they last.

Heavy rains swept the streets clear well before our arrival. We are reasonably certain that no one followed or saw us go in.

It felt good to be in and out of the drench and with the opportunity to rest and dry off.

We spent time together with the Spirit, petitioning for Elam’s well-being, and for his rescue.

And we also heard that we need to be at the seaport within eight days, or half way through this city’s final days.

Day Ninety Two #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Calm has descended upon us again. This after we have discovered that Stan was not lost, but his disappearance was planned. He abandoned us.

I was going through our supplies and found that someone has heavily pilfered from them.

Anyway that was my conclusion deduced from that discovery.  But Lyle takes it a step further. He believes that Stan was actively trying to impede us, which in his estimation makes it all the more imperative that we leave now and get back on track.

Between us we got every thing left packed up and ready to go.  By the evening we had left the picturesque lake area behind us and set up camp to spend the night under the stars.

Day Forty Seven PM #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Found something that will serve to get us and our supplies down from the wall. Makes me wish that Lyle and I had agreed upon a set time for his return. No telling now when it’ll happen.

I’ve found a good place to store things, both what we brought with us and what we can find hereabouts to add to it.

All quiet otherwise. Too quiet.

A couple of times I caught myself humming. It brought back memories of other times and other circumstances. Not that I would want to trade now for then if I could. Despite then being a “happier” time, comparatively speaking. No sir, not at all. No way. No how.

I’ve learned my lesson about that.