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"There's not enough room in this forum for the two of us." FM slammed his emptied whisky glass down on the wooden counter. "Step outside, Grix......"
Grix eyed FM carefully. They'd known each other for a long time, but things had been gettin' a little strained lately."
"What's this about, FM," he demanded, making his way through the packed but hushed saloon and pushing the swinging doors outwards as he stepped onto the dusty ground outside.
"Well," replied FM, pushing open the doors again and following Grix outside into the hot, dry air, "You've bushwhacked one of my topics just one time too many. It's time we had this out. Mano a Mano. Poster to Poster."
Grix paused in his stride to think of a witty retort about FM's last comment, then decided that now was probably not the time.
"So, what's it to be? 10 paces, turn and fire?" asked Grix, making sure his gunbelt was fastened properly.
"You know me better than that, Grix. 30 paces." FM checked his gunbelt. The Smith and Wesson 6-shot revolver hung loosely at his right hip.
They stood back to back under the glare of the midday sun, and started to count.....
1....2....3....
The occupants of the saloon were packing the windows trying to get a glimpse of the showdown outside. This was unheard of. The last shootout in the town of Last Chance Reserve had been quite a time ago, when the Er-no posse had cleaned out the Desperate Dans, but this was different. Two equally matched opponents were about to face off.
Insane Bartender was going even more nuts behind the saloon's counter because he was losing good sales whilst all this was going on.
Outside, the count was at 25.... as FM glanced to his right and saw PB on the roof of the Red Splat Hotel and Boarding House, shotgun at hand. PB nodded with a knowing look. FM nodded back.
The count was 26.... as Grix looked across to the SR Saddlery, where he spied Sniper with his trusty Winchester Rifle. Grix gave a brief nod. Sniper returned it.
27....28...29..
Dust whirled up as both men spun to face each other. The blast of PB's shotgun firing both barrels broke the deafening silence that preceeded it, and a cloud of sand flew up at Grix's feet as the buckshot ploughed into the ground.
Grix drew his gun and took aim, FM was still drawing his because he was left handed and his belt was on the wrong way, Sniper fired his rifle, and there was a sharp report, then a clatter as PB dropped his shotgun and swandived off the roof of the hotel and landed in a horse trough.
FM grappled with his pistol, it had snagged in the holster, and he reminded himself to be more careful where he left his chewing gum.
Grix took pity. (No he didn't). Grix fired his gun. Fortunately, FM and done his research and Grix's eyesight wasn't as good as it should have been, and at 30 paces it was like trying to read a Wanted Poster through a mirage. Grix's first bullet flew out of town faster than a newbie Gameaday winner. He wasn't sure if he had hit FM or not, but then he heard FM pull back the hammer of his Smith and Wesson with a
*click*
Grix eyed FM carefully. They'd known each other for a long time, but things had been gettin' a little strained lately."
"What's this about, FM," he demanded, making his way through the packed but hushed saloon and pushing the swinging doors outwards as he stepped onto the dusty ground outside.
"Well," replied FM, pushing open the doors again and following Grix outside into the hot, dry air, "You've bushwhacked one of my topics just one time too many. It's time we had this out. Mano a Mano. Poster to Poster."
Grix paused in his stride to think of a witty retort about FM's last comment, then decided that now was probably not the time.
"So, what's it to be? 10 paces, turn and fire?" asked Grix, making sure his gunbelt was fastened properly.
"You know me better than that, Grix. 30 paces." FM checked his gunbelt. The Smith and Wesson 6-shot revolver hung loosely at his right hip.
They stood back to back under the glare of the midday sun, and started to count.....
1....2....3....
The occupants of the saloon were packing the windows trying to get a glimpse of the showdown outside. This was unheard of. The last shootout in the town of Last Chance Reserve had been quite a time ago, when the Er-no posse had cleaned out the Desperate Dans, but this was different. Two equally matched opponents were about to face off.
Insane Bartender was going even more nuts behind the saloon's counter because he was losing good sales whilst all this was going on.
Outside, the count was at 25.... as FM glanced to his right and saw PB on the roof of the Red Splat Hotel and Boarding House, shotgun at hand. PB nodded with a knowing look. FM nodded back.
The count was 26.... as Grix looked across to the SR Saddlery, where he spied Sniper with his trusty Winchester Rifle. Grix gave a brief nod. Sniper returned it.
27....28...29..
Dust whirled up as both men spun to face each other. The blast of PB's shotgun firing both barrels broke the deafening silence that preceeded it, and a cloud of sand flew up at Grix's feet as the buckshot ploughed into the ground.
Grix drew his gun and took aim, FM was still drawing his because he was left handed and his belt was on the wrong way, Sniper fired his rifle, and there was a sharp report, then a clatter as PB dropped his shotgun and swandived off the roof of the hotel and landed in a horse trough.
FM grappled with his pistol, it had snagged in the holster, and he reminded himself to be more careful where he left his chewing gum.
Grix took pity. (No he didn't). Grix fired his gun. Fortunately, FM and done his research and Grix's eyesight wasn't as good as it should have been, and at 30 paces it was like trying to read a Wanted Poster through a mirage. Grix's first bullet flew out of town faster than a newbie Gameaday winner. He wasn't sure if he had hit FM or not, but then he heard FM pull back the hammer of his Smith and Wesson with a
*click*
Page:
Grix and the stranger reached the cemetary gates. It had been a long walk, and they were both weary. Grix looked up at the night sky, and the stars looked back. He surveyed the sinister looking necropolis before him. He briefly wondered why such a small town had such a large graveyard, but chose not to dwell on that point. It was well built indeed, he noted. A spiked steel fence lined the perimiter, painted jet black and eight feet high. Grix wondered why such an effort was made to keep people out....or in. He turned to look at the church, and on cue the bells rang out. Eleven of the clock. The stranger had entered the gates and made his way towards a lone gravestone in the far corner. Grix followed him in, and caught up with him as he reached the gravestone.
"This is the one?" Grix asked.
"Yes. See the name"
The stranger brushed some dirt from the face of the gravestone, and Grix scanned the inscription.
"Here lies.."
------------
Masala examined the new form he had acquired. Female, and very pretty. Better still, it placed him further from the prying eye of suspicion. It was time to see what Grix was up to. It would not do to let things happen around him. Fate is what you make it, and history is written by the winners. He focused on some unseen object in the sky. Grix and the stranger were at the cemetary. Good.
He sensed Ant's army was ready also, but then he had a town full of armed men under his control, didn't he?
And if that wasn't enough, he could call on the others....from last time...
"This is the one?" Grix asked.
"Yes. See the name"
The stranger brushed some dirt from the face of the gravestone, and Grix scanned the inscription.
"Here lies.."
------------
Masala examined the new form he had acquired. Female, and very pretty. Better still, it placed him further from the prying eye of suspicion. It was time to see what Grix was up to. It would not do to let things happen around him. Fate is what you make it, and history is written by the winners. He focused on some unseen object in the sky. Grix and the stranger were at the cemetary. Good.
He sensed Ant's army was ready also, but then he had a town full of armed men under his control, didn't he?
And if that wasn't enough, he could call on the others....from last time...
Ant looked at the man... was it really The Game... or was he mistaken?
---------------
Sniper looked at the man... was it really The Game... or was he mistaken?
---------------
Sniper looked at the man... was it really The Game... or was he mistaken?
Well Un-ADD me!
The Game wrote:
> The crowds from the saloon watched as the men ran off.
A shadowy
> figure about 6' walked round and leant by a ranch post about 30
> yards away.
Sniper couldn't see the man. The western sun was far
> too bright.
The man pushed off the post with his shoulder and
> began to walk over to Sniper.
"That's some nice shootin'
> with that 45 boy." The man took the desert grass out of his
> mouth.
"People call me 'The Game'. anyway...I guess I'll see
> you round"
The Game tipped his hat to Sniper who seemed to
> accept the shady charachter.
He had a very quiet look about him
> but Sniper knew he wasn't one to be messed with.
Sniper Lifted
> his head quickly in acknowledgement.
"yeah..." He
> said.
The Game Walked on, 45 in holster into the saloon as Sniper
> watched.
I JUST ADDED YOU!!!
> The crowds from the saloon watched as the men ran off.
A shadowy
> figure about 6' walked round and leant by a ranch post about 30
> yards away.
Sniper couldn't see the man. The western sun was far
> too bright.
The man pushed off the post with his shoulder and
> began to walk over to Sniper.
"That's some nice shootin'
> with that 45 boy." The man took the desert grass out of his
> mouth.
"People call me 'The Game'. anyway...I guess I'll see
> you round"
The Game tipped his hat to Sniper who seemed to
> accept the shady charachter.
He had a very quiet look about him
> but Sniper knew he wasn't one to be messed with.
Sniper Lifted
> his head quickly in acknowledgement.
"yeah..." He
> said.
The Game Walked on, 45 in holster into the saloon as Sniper
> watched.
I JUST ADDED YOU!!!
The crowds from the saloon watched as the men ran off.
A shadowy figure about 6' walked round and leant by a ranch post about 30 yards away.
Sniper couldn't see the man. The western sun was far too bright.
The man pushed off the post with his shoulder and began to walk over to Sniper.
"That's some nice shootin' with that 45 boy." The man took the desert grass out of his mouth.
"People call me 'The Game'. anyway...I guess I'll see you round"
The Game tipped his hat to Sniper who seemed to accept the shady charachter.
He had a very quiet look about him but Sniper knew he wasn't one to be messed with.
Sniper Lifted his head quickly in acknowledgement.
"yeah..." He said.
The Game Walked on, 45 in holster into the saloon as Sniper watched.
A shadowy figure about 6' walked round and leant by a ranch post about 30 yards away.
Sniper couldn't see the man. The western sun was far too bright.
The man pushed off the post with his shoulder and began to walk over to Sniper.
"That's some nice shootin' with that 45 boy." The man took the desert grass out of his mouth.
"People call me 'The Game'. anyway...I guess I'll see you round"
The Game tipped his hat to Sniper who seemed to accept the shady charachter.
He had a very quiet look about him but Sniper knew he wasn't one to be messed with.
Sniper Lifted his head quickly in acknowledgement.
"yeah..." He said.
The Game Walked on, 45 in holster into the saloon as Sniper watched.
Ant looked in awe at the millions of warriors that had risen up. It was....uncomprehendible!!
Some of them thanked him, others bowed down to him, some kisses his feet until Ant shook them off, some just stood there...motionless...not able to believe what had just happened.
One man cried out, "All hail, King Coolio Santos!!" Everyone bowed down, and waited with baited to breath for Ant to say something. Ant thought for a moment, and then said, "Soooooo...who here likes sugar??"
Some said yes, while others looked confused. "You know, the sweet, white, tiny little balls stuff.." Ant said.
Still, some were confused.
"They're bad for your teeth!!"
"Yes!! "Yeah!! "Yes, Master!!" Came the cries.
Ant looked at a warrior on the left hand side. He looked familiar. Ant looked closer, and he realized who it was, "THE GAME!!"
Ant and Game went up to eachother and embraced in a manly way. Then they both turned away, embarrased.
"So......" Ant said uncomfortably, "Let's tell the others what we're doing."
Ant called them all into a small, or very large, huddle. Ant began to tell them what to do in inaudible whispers.
One man at the back cries, "I can't hear!!" Then there were more cries of the same thing.
"Okay....." Ant said. Out of no where the voice came again "Use the Staff...The Staff..."
Ant looked at the Staff, and talked into it like a microphone. It was VERY loud.
So, Ant began to explain, "RIGHT!! WE ARE GOING TO...
Some of them thanked him, others bowed down to him, some kisses his feet until Ant shook them off, some just stood there...motionless...not able to believe what had just happened.
One man cried out, "All hail, King Coolio Santos!!" Everyone bowed down, and waited with baited to breath for Ant to say something. Ant thought for a moment, and then said, "Soooooo...who here likes sugar??"
Some said yes, while others looked confused. "You know, the sweet, white, tiny little balls stuff.." Ant said.
Still, some were confused.
"They're bad for your teeth!!"
"Yes!! "Yeah!! "Yes, Master!!" Came the cries.
Ant looked at a warrior on the left hand side. He looked familiar. Ant looked closer, and he realized who it was, "THE GAME!!"
Ant and Game went up to eachother and embraced in a manly way. Then they both turned away, embarrased.
"So......" Ant said uncomfortably, "Let's tell the others what we're doing."
Ant called them all into a small, or very large, huddle. Ant began to tell them what to do in inaudible whispers.
One man at the back cries, "I can't hear!!" Then there were more cries of the same thing.
"Okay....." Ant said. Out of no where the voice came again "Use the Staff...The Staff..."
Ant looked at the Staff, and talked into it like a microphone. It was VERY loud.
So, Ant began to explain, "RIGHT!! WE ARE GOING TO...
The Preacher returned to his thinking... thinking about times past... and times future.
A glorious future indeed.
And what could stop him?... He felt like using his powers to show the world what he was capable of... right there...
But no. The timing in still ripe. Shall be plucked when ready.
Not a man alive was more powerful than he... not one man...
-------------
The last week or so had been hell for Sniper...
After finally climbing out from the hole, Sniper had continued to ride into town on a newly purchased hover hoss... to cheer him up.
Unfortuanatly, three men, who thought they were SO clever... had spooked his horse.
After demanding that the three men apologise to his hoss, and then getting shot at and chased out of town, Sniper had decided to face the three... he would take them all on.
But Sniper had a plan.
"So amigo! You are back!" The first man said... he wore an old face, and a wide grin. Where his grin wasn't, his moustache was. He sat apon a chair around the biggest table in the bar... the two others were there too, and had managed to grab some company in the form of women.
"Yes..." Said Sniper. "...I am."
The second man spoke. "Hey... tell your hoss we sorry for spooking it!"
The three men burst into laughter... the women started laughing too, not sure why they were. Sniper was not so amused.
"Nobody makes fun of my hoss, and gets away with it."
"And what are you going to do Amigo? Take us all on?"
Laughter again.
"Yes. I am."
The laughter stopped. Three men stared... was he indeed so serious?
A few minutes later, Sniper stood outside in the windy town. Three men stood opposite him, their hands tense over their holsters.
"Hey amigo!" The first man shouted. "If you shoot me, I'll buy you a NEW hoss!"
The other two started laughing...
Sniper smiled. "How could you buy me a new hoss..." Sniper reached into his jacket, and removed a cigar. He bit the tip off, and spat it out. He then took a match from his pocket, lit it, and then the cigar... "If you are dead?"
The three men stopped laughing.
The first man spoke. "What?"
"He has a point boss." Said the third one.
"What? Why?" The first one turned to the third man, who was on his left.
"Well... if you were dead, you wouldn't be able to move, would you."
"And..." Said the second man, on the first mans left, "Are you sure you have enough money anyway?"
"Good point," Said the third man. "Perhaps you should have just said that he can take your money, when you are dead, to buy himself a hoss."
"But then, if he doesn't have the money on him, then he could go to the bank and take some out from his account."
"But he wouldn't be allowed..."
The second man thought for a second... "Oh... No, that wouldn't work at all."
"WILL BOTH OF YOU PLEASE SHUT UP!" The first man said... "Do I pay you to critise what I say?"
The two men thought for a while... "You don't pay us at all..."
"Never mind then. Now shut up."
The three men leant forward...
Sniper went for his gun... and shot...
He missed.
The first man got his gun out next... he fired... and hit Sniper directly in the chest...
"HAAA HAAA HAAA!!! HE DIE LIKE DUCK!!! BAA HAAA HAA!!!" The first man kept laughing...
And Sniper got up from the floor... and held his hand to his chest...
"Err... boss?" The third man said... "Boss?"
"What!? BAAA HAAA!"
"He's not dead!"
"What?"
The first man looked at Sniper... he was dusting off his poncho.
"He's not dead!"
The first man fired again... Sniper fell backwards...
"NOW HE IS!!! BAAA HAAAAA!"
...And got up again.
"Who is this idiot! Clint Eastwood or something?"
He shot again.
Sniper fell to the floor.
Sniper got up.
"Why won't you die!!!!"
The man fired again... and again...
Sniper lay on the ground... not moving.
The men watched him... Sniper wasn't moving... was he dead?
...
"He's not moving... he's dead." The first man said.
He walked over to Sniper... and kicked him.
"Hey! HEY! AMIGO! YOU DEAD?" The first man asked.
Sniper opened his eyes.
"There's only two kinds of people in this world: Those that ask the questions..." Sniper fired his gun... the first man recieved the bullet in his chest...
"...And those that are dead."
The two men took one look at Sniper... and ran away.
Sniper span the gun on his finger... and turned it towards him, and pushed it into his holster...
A glorious future indeed.
And what could stop him?... He felt like using his powers to show the world what he was capable of... right there...
But no. The timing in still ripe. Shall be plucked when ready.
Not a man alive was more powerful than he... not one man...
-------------
The last week or so had been hell for Sniper...
After finally climbing out from the hole, Sniper had continued to ride into town on a newly purchased hover hoss... to cheer him up.
Unfortuanatly, three men, who thought they were SO clever... had spooked his horse.
After demanding that the three men apologise to his hoss, and then getting shot at and chased out of town, Sniper had decided to face the three... he would take them all on.
But Sniper had a plan.
"So amigo! You are back!" The first man said... he wore an old face, and a wide grin. Where his grin wasn't, his moustache was. He sat apon a chair around the biggest table in the bar... the two others were there too, and had managed to grab some company in the form of women.
"Yes..." Said Sniper. "...I am."
The second man spoke. "Hey... tell your hoss we sorry for spooking it!"
The three men burst into laughter... the women started laughing too, not sure why they were. Sniper was not so amused.
"Nobody makes fun of my hoss, and gets away with it."
"And what are you going to do Amigo? Take us all on?"
Laughter again.
"Yes. I am."
The laughter stopped. Three men stared... was he indeed so serious?
A few minutes later, Sniper stood outside in the windy town. Three men stood opposite him, their hands tense over their holsters.
"Hey amigo!" The first man shouted. "If you shoot me, I'll buy you a NEW hoss!"
The other two started laughing...
Sniper smiled. "How could you buy me a new hoss..." Sniper reached into his jacket, and removed a cigar. He bit the tip off, and spat it out. He then took a match from his pocket, lit it, and then the cigar... "If you are dead?"
The three men stopped laughing.
The first man spoke. "What?"
"He has a point boss." Said the third one.
"What? Why?" The first one turned to the third man, who was on his left.
"Well... if you were dead, you wouldn't be able to move, would you."
"And..." Said the second man, on the first mans left, "Are you sure you have enough money anyway?"
"Good point," Said the third man. "Perhaps you should have just said that he can take your money, when you are dead, to buy himself a hoss."
"But then, if he doesn't have the money on him, then he could go to the bank and take some out from his account."
"But he wouldn't be allowed..."
The second man thought for a second... "Oh... No, that wouldn't work at all."
"WILL BOTH OF YOU PLEASE SHUT UP!" The first man said... "Do I pay you to critise what I say?"
The two men thought for a while... "You don't pay us at all..."
"Never mind then. Now shut up."
The three men leant forward...
Sniper went for his gun... and shot...
He missed.
The first man got his gun out next... he fired... and hit Sniper directly in the chest...
"HAAA HAAA HAAA!!! HE DIE LIKE DUCK!!! BAA HAAA HAA!!!" The first man kept laughing...
And Sniper got up from the floor... and held his hand to his chest...
"Err... boss?" The third man said... "Boss?"
"What!? BAAA HAAA!"
"He's not dead!"
"What?"
The first man looked at Sniper... he was dusting off his poncho.
"He's not dead!"
The first man fired again... Sniper fell backwards...
"NOW HE IS!!! BAAA HAAAAA!"
...And got up again.
"Who is this idiot! Clint Eastwood or something?"
He shot again.
Sniper fell to the floor.
Sniper got up.
"Why won't you die!!!!"
The man fired again... and again...
Sniper lay on the ground... not moving.
The men watched him... Sniper wasn't moving... was he dead?
...
"He's not moving... he's dead." The first man said.
He walked over to Sniper... and kicked him.
"Hey! HEY! AMIGO! YOU DEAD?" The first man asked.
Sniper opened his eyes.
"There's only two kinds of people in this world: Those that ask the questions..." Sniper fired his gun... the first man recieved the bullet in his chest...
"...And those that are dead."
The two men took one look at Sniper... and ran away.
Sniper span the gun on his finger... and turned it towards him, and pushed it into his holster...
Wondering around during his break, the coach driver kicked a nearby stone. Nothing to do again, why were these outskirts towns so boring? He followed the path of the stone until it bounced off of a small hill in the dirt. For the first time the coach driver noticed something gleaming in the sandy ground and bent down to pick it up. As he brushed the dirt away the metal object revealed itself to be a ring, but it was what was still attached to the ring that was more shocking and make the coach driver back away slowly, a horrible grimace on his face. What he had inadvertently uncovered was actually the body of a woman. It was Jenny.
-----------
The Preacher, now feeling more in control after feasting on Jenny’s soul, walked towards the dessert again. He knew that Grix and the Stranger were close to the truth and he couldn’t let them get any further. The town still seemed to be in a state of panic and mass riot, so he could continue to drain their power too without any further interference for the time being. He watched a crow flying back towards the village, it let out a loud caw and dropped to the ground. The preacher grinned at his control over the simple creature and allowed his black dog to pick it up as they continued to the temple.
- - -----
Back in the town Edgy the undertaker crept away from the scene. He had incited the crowd enough now and they were about to make him a big profit. Now all he needed was to get back to a safe distance and wait.
Earlier in the morning he had heard the voices in his head again. They often told him what to do, but he never usually listened. This time was different, they’d sounded so much clearer and the idea sounded so good. All he’d had to do was go to the mine on the edge of town and bring back some of the explosives that were still waiting to be used. He’d simply find a quiet moment and stick them under the gallows. He didn’t know why he was doing this at the time, but it definitely sounded like a good idea to him at the time and now he could see the plan take shape. “Why hadn’t I listened to these voices earlier?” He thought as he watched the crowd grow ever more restless and move nearer and nearer to the gallows stand.
-----------
The Preacher, now feeling more in control after feasting on Jenny’s soul, walked towards the dessert again. He knew that Grix and the Stranger were close to the truth and he couldn’t let them get any further. The town still seemed to be in a state of panic and mass riot, so he could continue to drain their power too without any further interference for the time being. He watched a crow flying back towards the village, it let out a loud caw and dropped to the ground. The preacher grinned at his control over the simple creature and allowed his black dog to pick it up as they continued to the temple.
- - -----
Back in the town Edgy the undertaker crept away from the scene. He had incited the crowd enough now and they were about to make him a big profit. Now all he needed was to get back to a safe distance and wait.
Earlier in the morning he had heard the voices in his head again. They often told him what to do, but he never usually listened. This time was different, they’d sounded so much clearer and the idea sounded so good. All he’d had to do was go to the mine on the edge of town and bring back some of the explosives that were still waiting to be used. He’d simply find a quiet moment and stick them under the gallows. He didn’t know why he was doing this at the time, but it definitely sounded like a good idea to him at the time and now he could see the plan take shape. “Why hadn’t I listened to these voices earlier?” He thought as he watched the crowd grow ever more restless and move nearer and nearer to the gallows stand.
"He told me to tell you, the watchers eyes are open."
The stranger frowned... and looked back at the rock.
"The description on the rock is wrong..." The preacher kneeled to show Grix the rock again... "It says the shrine holds the staff... not the... eyes."
Grix asked, "So would that mean that the other artifacts have also been rotated?"
"Yes... after all, I did wonder when the Indian told us that the staff would be found by Ant. I thought perhaps he was growing mad with agony... I was wrong to doubt him."
The preacher got up.
"Now, we must journey to the graveyard..."
"But we still don't know what the name is on the grave!"
The stranger smiled.
"The name?... I think you already know."
Grix smiled again...
The stranger frowned... and looked back at the rock.
"The description on the rock is wrong..." The preacher kneeled to show Grix the rock again... "It says the shrine holds the staff... not the... eyes."
Grix asked, "So would that mean that the other artifacts have also been rotated?"
"Yes... after all, I did wonder when the Indian told us that the staff would be found by Ant. I thought perhaps he was growing mad with agony... I was wrong to doubt him."
The preacher got up.
"Now, we must journey to the graveyard..."
"But we still don't know what the name is on the grave!"
The stranger smiled.
"The name?... I think you already know."
Grix smiled again...
Meka_dragon was worried. The thread was in danger of dropping out of site. But what could he do at a time like this? He had no inspiration to develop the story further, and was relying on someone else to move it on.
So he begun to write something irrelevant, hoping that his boss wouldn't be standing behind him else he'd have to hit 'Home' with a *click*
So he begun to write something irrelevant, hoping that his boss wouldn't be standing behind him else he'd have to hit 'Home' with a *click*
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