A large party of dissenters slunk away in the cover of night. Those who remain think they went in search of the mark and the protection it offers.
Elijah conferred with me. We are in perfect accord. His work is done here. He will send others to reach out to the villages on this side of the mountain. I have one place left to check before we move on.
Probably as soon as tomorrow.
Enough writes:
The oasis looks to be only a day away, an easy day, given the even ground. So this time tomorrow I should be able to spit out my pebbles and put them away.
I have reached that point in my fast, when the hunger pains are gone.
The decision has been made. Tomorrow we will all repair to the fields and there camp through the harvest. Today was given over to preparations to that end.
Last night the lights from the west end seemed even brighter than the evening before. They especially lit up all the approaches to their gateways. What do they have to fear from our small quarter? From us?
I guess we fear them too. Not knowing what their intent is toward us.
Lyle becomes more concerned with each passing day that Kip and Moglen may be lost to us. Could they indeed be swayed?
Later I sought the grace and peace that flows in my walled courtyard, sensing there may be no return.
We got an early start this morning at Lyle’s insistence. Trouble is, there are a few more things missing than we realized yesterday.
For one, the binoculars are gone. We assume that Stan never returned them when last he had them. Lyle says it’s okay and that we’ll just have to rely more on my excellent vision and what he calls my foresight. I’m flattered but think he is actually counting on our drones to fill that need.
About midday the first village this side of the mountain came into our view. Many more lay beyond, with the city on the plain farther still, beckoning before the desert.
We should be standing near its humble buildings this same time tomorrow.
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