Chapter 326
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The morning of April 13th Eve woke up early to attend christian church service, led by Elliot. He read from the Bible and directed people when to pray. He didn't seem to care how people prayed, but believed faith gave people the strength they needed to survive. Elliot would probably be classified as a legalist. Eve felt he had no interest in saving souls. She'd already lost her husband, he might be burning in Hell right now. She couldn't let this happen to Nadia. Nadia saved Eve's soul three years ago, Eve owed her the same. Eve knew she had little time, had to begin immediately. However much this annoyed Nadia, Eve would get her best friend to accept Jesus Christ. Over the next week Eve tried to talk to Nadia about Christ, but she wouldn't consider converting. This caused friction within their friendship. Nadia still believed in Allah, and islam. Eve feared for Nadia's soul, especially with so little time left. Eve also feared she wasn't very good at explaining her faith to Nadia, how one man could die for everyone's sins. And Nadia thought about her brother Mohammed. She asked Eve what her faith said about a child who died. Eve liked to believe that a child automatically got into Heaven, but admitted that she wasn't sure. That made it impossible for Nadia to accept this new religion, but Eve kept trying.
On Friday April 18th people were again sitting around the campfire, telling stories. Many of them had escaped from overthrown sectors, mini-kingdoms. In one sector, they'd committed mass-suicide, believing they'd ascend into Heven, or at least another planet. Eve had heard rumors that Finis Generatium belived that humanity must end their own lives to atone for the sins that brought ELE in the first place. Another sector was now run by a thug who called himself "the Mayor." This "Mayor" was insane, encouraged theft, assault, even murder, to weed out the weak. Another person told this group a horror story.
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"There is a diner, on the open road, right next to a motel. Used to be considered nice, before 2/4. Now, it seems like an oasis. Clean rooms with beds, a diner with food cooking, even a swimming pool. In the diner they'll give you whatever you want to eat, free of charge, or so they say. The power for the tv, or the pinball machine, works about an hour a day. You should enjoy it before your meal comes. Becuse after you finish your meal, you'll feel very sleepy. After you fall asleep, you'll never wake up again. Won't feel the pain coming. That's when the cooks take their payment. It's how they survive, get more food. You have just become the main course in a cannibal restaurant."