Slate stands outside leaning against the railing in the dark with a cup of coffee in hand, the world only just glowing around him by the building behind him, the snow gently falling around him.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCGLxlFXSI
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV6YNcy9ta
They found a place to stop and rest for the night, but the bad news is they're out for fuel now for the helicopter so they'll have to go on foot from now on when they eventually leave this place.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNC204TYbB
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa8Reovec6
The place they have sought refuge is some base in the mountains, it had a landing pad on the roof and luckily was stocked with some supplies, but not enough to last them for more than a few days so they will have to leave to find food and perhaps find other shelter plus in the current climate, it's very cold. They're not all rugged up warmly and are doing what they can to stay warm as when they escaped, they didn't think about the weather.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXq43UzSAYw
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9vvEMjnOv
"Hi. Want some company?" A small voice whispers, a person come outside to join Slate on the balcony. He looks behind him to see Beth. "It's cold, you'll get cold out here. Go back inside to the fireplace." He tells her.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUO2rqiwRm
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWHqSeOYjN
"My head hurts, everyone else is inside trying to do maths to work out how old we are, but it's hard when we don't have all the figures we need. We we're downstairs for three years and we seem to be in our 20's somewhere, but what else in time are we missing? So, can I please stand out here with you?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC2vqhI3lt
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3cH4XMwuT
"Sure, come here." He says, removing his insulated fighter coat. He has a really thick shirt on underneath anyway so he'll be fine, but Beth? She's in just a singlet, pink shorts with black leggings. He helps her put it on. "Thank you, Slate."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsVhdS8kuv
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh1tUlO621
"It's okay, you need it more than me."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTstnOZbmJ
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk9iLPoORR
He takes a sip of his coffee and looks out at the dead world covered in a blanket of snow as she does the same. "Beth..."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4WxZrLiwE
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfpGtMF9Hk
"Yeah?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFTJFfRRYR
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM2i9oTnO7
"I just wanted to say-"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQGqOfVtJf
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0PGvjoWNg
"Thank you for leading us, saving us."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDDzJ86gvR
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi7vbGyohk
"Oh, sure. No problem, I'd have done it for anyone..." And then the intrusive memory starts creeping back. He killed him.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFrQEHSYMD
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweFiCRmcJB
During escaping with Beth, he can't tell them. But he killed someone, he remembered. Murphy raped her and killed Hazel and Elijah on a mission. He wasn't punished by Solayo for the second one, the leaders covered it up.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0TaSvnvCI
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVW5Q9tY59
Murphy got in his way, he was drunk and trying to pick a fight with him... He doesn't want to remember. He... He handcuffed Murphy to a railing with his own handcuffs. 241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeZzlFupEk
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOBLkaxAbo
Then he looks down and for a second sees Murphy handcuffed to the railing. He jumps back, letting out a scream. He drops his coffee cup, but Beth only just catches it, burning herself. She cries, snapping him out of it. He takes the cup, sitting it on the railing and dumps out the remaining water in his flask, dumping it on her hands, taking them quickly in his. 241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUrRQpc2fK
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1j5d92sbF
"But the water! We need that!"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mRkntzjQx
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMOjP7LeAp
"But your hands, this is more important." He tells her. "I'm sorry."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEx3EjpUMd
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6g0EzvDAD
"It's ok. Are you okay? What even happened to you? You're head, those bandages."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNLCG8TWaG
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVSZLHWVHM
"Uh, I don't know." 241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXUwHahO0N
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jScQaJo29
It's not a total lie. Now the memories of before what Ester and Mikey did are patchy, but he can't remember anything before living at The Compound. He just remembers living and training there. His been downstairs before, he was in solitary for a long time before he worked with Solayo rather than against him. 241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3RDVH36bY
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfCu1rlVIS
But why we're when they even downstairs for three years? He can't put his finger on it.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4W7VCdKy7
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxTju0FDFy
"Beth."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztEHccannD
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmFUNpFvH6
"Yes?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdopqzL7kA9
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTdCrrxFSM
"I just want to tell you I'm sorry there is no tablets to give you, I must have lost them somewhere. The others all have some of their memories and attributes back, but you-"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8vy6hekoC
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkwmEOoqjJ
"It's okay, I don't need them." She tells him, turning back towards the railing, down. She touches her neck feeling the bandage around her neck and wrists.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rOytA9HQ4
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2XohGmjcC
"This was stupid, I don't even know why I did it... I'm sure remembering would only reveal the real reason and then... who knows what I'd do? Off myself?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2B1M48XCE
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEbMAtRvTb
He chokes, coughs when he hears her say this. He pulls out the cigarrettes from his pocket and quickly lights one. "Want one?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZ5ktIfNvD
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8EBJx0ERG
"No." She declines, shaking her head. "Uh, so. What are we going to now?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjADVs7qte
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy8B5mwaS4
"Head out at first light and find some more food I guess."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuVPONFi5W
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrmbiulxJE
"I mean where from now? We can't stay here forever. It's not a safe place. Not permanatly anyway."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfHJmrOSOx
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW1tN6Nb0d
"Nothing's going to get us. We're fine."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6tJ6Zpdy9
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTtMIhU7oH
"Sorry. For some reason, I feel like someone or something is watching me-"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvxsLi0CxU
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiUAIfuNuE
But she doesn't get to finish, Slate telling her to duck and he yells out to the others to cut the lights off inside. The lights go off a moment later and in the distance below the hill is a figure slowly walking along, it's leg half hanging off. 241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqSSAOMuUe
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPA7LAeIkI
"What is that?" Beth whispers, gulping. "That is what I'm afraid of. I tried to get some sleep earlier inside, but I kept seeing something like that in my sleep.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S2ghKTvIC
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDLOdjQQAS
The others talking woke me up."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg5yGV1Nqh
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFavQEXZFBs
"The hell if I know, but let's stay far away from it..."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx86K3q9aC
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡherVmys9M5
"Guys?" A voice whispers, coming up behind them. Slate almost backhands them. "Sorry."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YovID2Mtv
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfuyPHN8qi
He sees it's Lyla. "Do you want to come back inside? You'll freeze out here."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEqhv6AlAJ
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLQdSCmJWS
"Come here, see that?" He gestures her to join them. She peers at it. "Is it a person?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3pVoFFo72
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmFAgq3GOL
"It looks like one of us, but it's movements are weird and janky. And it's leg's hanging off, but it's walking mostly without it." Beth speaks up. 241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu1yysxkVp
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5H1xXBKeb
Then a cold gust blows. "We should head inside." Lyla says quickly and they all run back inside to shelter.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18VqqAMTJR
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqedQjalI33
"Hey, was it outside?" Gideon smiles.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafpg9pERD2
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsyXtoycID
"Cold." Slate responds. Gideon respomds, smirking and laughing.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoxXWZ8Vub
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRHmJUDAVr
"Well, duh!"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOQbxoBr33
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBN4S8fa78
"Whatever, Gid. We need the bandages. I need to change mine and hers." Slate gestures to Beth. "Sure." Gideon says quickly, handing them over to her.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdgCyO72AK
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeSO5WiHUp
Slate takes them, pulling her after him into the bedroom so they can have some privacy from the others. This building is only two rooms and cramped. 241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovafaNRhMw
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRanMz47Om
Lounge and kitchen merged together and then the bedroom seperatly. It barely fit the bed at all. 241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7uae1Hs1p
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHX28s2qXD
"So, what do you think this place is?" She whispers trying to make small talk as Slate gently unwraps the bandage around her neck. "Ah." She whinces lately, the bandage slightly sticking. He whinces when he sees the cut. Thank god it wasn't deep so it was never life threatening, but seeing there was an attempt, it's scary.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrxRxBCp2t
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjBvahTsOr
"Security jumped on me really quickly. Lyla ran into the hallway screaming and crying. They we're here in less than ten seconds."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHUsRaLyxW
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCnaVDM9Ps
"I'm glad your alive though..."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYDAHoC0Hd
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ423ti6E3dZ
"...Thank you. My arm... can you look at it. The guard who was on me, she was mean and pulled my arm behind my back saying she'd break it after last time so I could never do anything again. I don't know what she meant."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd05QseRHh
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyop4G5fZ9o
"Did someone stop her?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8YDag62eA
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHNiveMFIj
"Yeah, a colleague of hers."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ELwMMftWw
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRcx5YcBYD
When Slate finishes wrapping fresh bandage around her neck and wrists, her burnt hand as well. He slips her sleeve up to inspect her upper left arm. "It's quite bruised. Does it overly hurt to move it?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXHI7v0A2r
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewMMtntWkv
He gently moves it. "N-no." She breathes, removing his hand. "Turn around, I'll do your head." She tells him, removing the old bandage and wrapping a fresh one. It's hard to see the wounds beneath his hair.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH1qE48bao
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoW0VuJmRn
"So, what did they do exactly anyway?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMn5n9qYJ8
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfbYiTe3HI
"Uh, I really don't want to talk about it."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDTN8MvCxM
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEManBcvT8
"Sorry."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY4uoJ1KX9
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZuMFLjXQI
"It's okay. Just know it's the reason we're all here now. You all deserved better than the shit life we we're living there. It wasn't even really living."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DVkbKmRBa
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHvhTz17J5
The mood is really down now between them and slowly she leans against his shoulder, head resting and he wraps an arm around her shoulder not making any other movements.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy6Q8xqxAp
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtEGut0OMn
After a while, one of them finally speaks. "Where are we going to go now?" She asks.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneIjE58RBz
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv7MLxcxiu
"Anywhere we want."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWop6aE1a8L
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9jxffmqNX
"But where is that?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoFtOF6pDB
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCvjwg1uPC
"I... I don't know, I'm sorry. I didn't really have this all planned out, it was spur of the moment."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3KCqhbUCc
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfbL1E30fB
"It's okay. Better freezing in this mountain shack than tied to the bed for eight hours a day and injected for three years underground on floor 13."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMVL8Id7Km
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUT2o5Fknc
"That was hell."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF6atGHCf7
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNa1sSCL5Bm
"It was..."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aaPjDd8VK
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKQu9PxTgA
"I fought so many times, told them they we're horrible people and even tried to escape a few times. It never worked, even single time he'd have them drag me to my bed and they'd secure me again, having her prep a needle.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7b6qwlRuY
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlBOq2CTVL
That didn't help or cure me. But at-least I didn't end up like Paisley out there. The first and only time she yelled at them, they took her away and cut her head open. After that, she rarely talks now and barely interacts with anyone. What's going on inside her head?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2KfiDZ9yC
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVHTyMhXzd
"I don't know. And I think it was less about helping you than it was keeping you safe. It stopped you in the moment, but it was never actually help. I... I don't think they we're ever set up to actually help someone like you. I'm sorry, you deserved better treatment and actually some damn compansion and understanding than what you got." He whispers back, gently playing with her hair.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMzbFMEjQI
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKsi5gcmXF
"I like that." She smiles. "It feels nice."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWKlTOVnBx
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBaeP1Zn5c
So he keeps playing with it, running his fingers through and brushing it. "Can I grow it out? We we're never allowed to."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr0q4kXBek
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr3eYBPB2L
"You can do anything you want, Beth."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOFUYG8YS1
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGnlx2oeP1
"I want to grow it out."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSifrKRMehz
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpJ1kYiee9
"Then you can grow it out."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoQT4arMMZ
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqn1iHi2jc
"....."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJuQrYPBIQ
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGBiYPy6in
"....."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuvdg9vRJe
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Slowly they turn their heads towards eachother, lips touching for just a moment when she pulls away and starts slamming her arm on the bedside table, crying.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQokfqbSDmD
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj7qJCNDKQ
He grabs her, pulling her back, wrapping his arms and legs around her, cupping his hand over his mouth so Lyla, Gideon and Paisley don't come in here.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4bdzupZm9
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzIFfz5IbY
She stops straining and calms down slightly, albeit still crying. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He repeats all over and over. "Everything okay in there?" Lyla calls out from the other side of the door. "I heard a thump."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnIsz5roOr
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfojbUWztwf
"I dropped a book! Everything's fine! Sorry!" He yells back, hearing Lyla's footsteps retreat. 241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDwduPNIwb
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw1mmIpXUI
He turns back to Beth, gently removing his hand. "I'm an asshole, I'm sorry-"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKVATi529D
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzETus8nLT
"It's fine, it's not your fault. Can we go a little slower is all?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZS21V1Zbl
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoj9N5KJYa
"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. We did only just escape today."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Nztcj0hia
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzb8U5DDmy
"It's not that."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9igl4DMiN
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJwgHtMzhG
"I don't understand-"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouXVNmxuAU
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbkcTYwtz9
"Can you please let me go, Slate? I'll promise not to break my arm, okay. If I do then you have any every right to touch me, any of you. But that's it. You don't do it just because I'm maybe being difficult and a pain in the ass."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uj9x5PlxF
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvVCAmapAq
"Hey, you're not a pain in the ass and you aren't being difficult on purpose. Did Solayo tell you that?"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq9ns6KCLN
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsWNPgkLFW
And she nods slowly when there is yelling, well cheering from outside the door. 241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tja4R4OLX
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2HpxxGvTN
"I think we're 28-29!" Lyla yells.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uPnp3ZgMc
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGduRANSq0b
"We're that old?! We don't even look that old in the mirror!" Gideon yells back.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoweVTnRh8
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFV2xW8IVH
"Where did you get those figures from?!" Paisley finally speaks. "Maths is complicated!"241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLyK9HjcF9
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXBOEtw5ag
"I think I need to go out there." Slate laughs. "Then go. I'm tired anyway, can I please just sleep? Alone." Beth responds.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKl4NQ9IEi
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ufJY3fqcs
"Okay. If you need me- us. We're right outside the door." He says, leaving the bed.241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP2V8rOyr3
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFpvxhu4cx
His going to tuck her in when she shivers, "No."241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9fTTxwIuJ
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlbcqBdCBi
He backs off. "I'm sorry, I won't." And he leaves the room, switching the light off to go talk to the others and subject himself to a long lecture on equations and how they got to their age. Could they really be 28-29 years old?241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdKbj3kvFw
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXq6DsNMp4
They look barely over 21. It's proably the lack of food so their growth is stunted and everything, but... 28-29 is such a long time and they'd been with Solayo since... he doesn't know. He can't quite put his finger on it. But 28-29 years old? No way. Just not possible...241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKveYQ49WW2
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfDdbCoFPL
241Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaJKE1qCc4
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