Victoria's body was far from fully functional as Harriet's life support
began a soft alternating beep. " The machine is waking her, "
she said putting the cup of electrolyte solution down and slowly standing.
The nausea had gone but she still felt weak; quite understandable, she thought,
considering that during the last hour her entire blood supply had been recycled
through the machine almost five times.
She took the few steps to stand beside Malcome as the lights began to fade
to a pale blue.
" A signal is being sent to her brain, to rouse her " she said
quietly to him as she leaned over and looked inside; her fingers tingled
as she touched the cover
Beneath she could see colour had returned to Harriet's face. Then the girl's
eyes opened, Victoria was expecting it, but it happened so suddenly that
it was still unnerving.
She notices Bertram step back self-consciously " She cant see us; inside
it is pitch black to her "
The alternating tone became continuos and then stopped.
" It's best if we step back ", she said. " The lid will open
now and it may be a little disconcerting for her to have us too close ".
The lid folded back so fast that none of them saw it withdraw.
Harriet's head moved sideways a little, and she seemed to look past them.
Malcome looked anxiously at Victoria, she returned a look of calm.
Harriet's head rolled over onto the side and she looked directly at
Malcome. " Nicholas? ". She said barely louder than a whisper.
" Not its me, Malcome your majesty " he said in a frightened
voice that almost made Victoria explode into laughter.
" Malcome ". She repeated
" Yes your majesty…. Malcome "
Harriet's voice was becoming stronger " Do I …..know you?
"
" I am your physician your majesty ". He said the words bursting
with pride
" Where….. am I? ".
Malcome looked at Victoria for support " Your safe Harriet "
She said tenderly.
Suddenly Harriet's eyes widened and she jerked herself up into a sitting
position so fast that the sheet covering her fell away. Victoria looked
in amusement at how fast both men spun around to face the wall.
" He is being looked after, " said Victoria as she stepped up
besides the girl. Covered and helped her into a sitting position on the
edge of the cot.
" He's all right isn't he " she said fearfully.
" That last I heard he was in the best of health ".
The girl's relief was visible. " The rebellion " she said
quickly " Did….. What has happened? ".
" The keep has been taken, " said Victoria not willing to
say more.
Harriet looked at Victoria. " Who are you? ".
" I am Victoria ".
" Do I know you? ".
Both Victoria and Bertram spoke together, she said "Nurse"
and he said "She's a relation of your's… your majesty".
" Bertram? " Harriet said recognising the voice
" That's right your Majesty " he said to the wall.
" Is that you Betram, turn around ".
Reluctantly he turned but stayed by the wall.
" Betram who are these people? ".
" That's…… Victoria " he said pointing to Victoria.
" She's…. ".
" A nurse " said Victoria nodding slightly to her.
" And that one there… " He said pointing to Malcome "
is Malcome, he's a Physician your majesty ".
" What's wrong with you Betram? ". She said completely bewildered
at his attitude.
" Nothing your majesty, were just very pleased to see your injuries
gone ".
The girl's head fell to look at her shoulder and her hand came up to
touch her silky skin. For several moments she touched and probed her side,
then she looked up at Malcome " what have you done? ". She said
in amazement. " What happened to the wound? …. How…. How
can I still be alive "?
Malcome moved uneasily from foot to foot. He wanted to but was reluctant
to say any of it was his doing. " My nurse " he said at last "
Is far greater than that name gives her credit your majesty ".
At last Harriet's mind made sense of both men's deference to Victoria
and her eyes settled firmly on her.
Victoria felt a shiver go down her spine; through the mists of time
she saw Rhea looking back.
Harriet saw here swallow deeply. " Please don't you start calling
me your majesty as well ".
Victoria smiled and began to laugh. " I promise I will never call
you that ".
" Good " said Harriet " you're in charge aren't you?
".
Victoria took another deep breath and glanced at the men. " At
this moment, and at and time, yes I am ".
" Then please what happened? ".
" Where do you remember up to? ".
" I remember the blade ". She said her eyes showing the recollection
of pain " Then everything went black. Then I was lying down and Nicholas
was holding my hand. I felt warm and safe. He said he lo….. "
Her words trailed away in awkwardness, it was a moment she didn't want to
share. After that I was sleeping in a grassy glade. There was mist and people
kept walking in and out….. " Her eyes opened wide again "
someone…. " She looked up at Malcome, " said I'm very sorry
but she is dead ".
Malcome face screwed up in mortification
She looked back at Victoria " I was dead wasn't I " her voice
shocked.
" No " said Victoria firmly " You were as close as anyone
can get to it, but you were not dead ".
" Then why did he say that? " she said tears forming in the
corner of her eyes
" I can explain but now I…….. "
" Please forgive me, " said Malcome falling to his knees besides
Victoria " I did all I could your majesty " he sobbed.
" Why do they keep saying that " Harriet said tears now running
over her cheeks.
" Enough " snapped Victoria so firmly that they all immediately
went quiet.
" You two " she glared at Malcome and Betram " Go to
the galley and Isla will… " She said for some reason looking
up into the air " …………and ", she returned
her look to the men, "… you will be instructed on how to prepare
a meal for us all. Well……… " She demanded. " Down
the corridor second left… Go "
They almost ran from the room
She turned back to Harriet. " Right young lady " she said her
voice loosing the hardness. " you have had a traumatic time and you
will have more, far more than you would choose, but hopefully not life threatening.
As Malcome was trying to say, he did do his best, what saved you was a technology
that is impossible for me to explain in a few minutes, but suffice to say
that in those moments that Nicholas… " Victoria looked knowingly
at Harriet "…opened his heart, he slipped this on your finger
" Victoria tenderly took the girls wrist and lifted it up between them.
" Alexis ring? " gasped Harriet
" No " Victoria contradicted, " Look again, it fits you,
it is your ring ".
Harriet looked down. The small stone was afire with colour
" I…. I don't understand " she said mystified.
" I'm not sure I do either, " said Victoria. " But the
bits I do know are this. Many years ago there was a royal family called
the Davenoff's. I know this is true for I am one of them… "
" You're a princess, " gasped Harriet
Victoria's mouth opened but no words came out for seconds. " …It's
a, it's a long time since I was, but… I suppose I still am a princess
" she began to giggle " Oh Harriet it's been so long you wouldn't
believe… And before you start calling me your majesty there's more.
While you were being treated I checked you D.N.A… Don't ask why or
what that is,… Anyway your D.N.A is as good as identical to mine. That
means that you and I are related ".
Harriet's mouth had sagged open.
" If we could trace the line back, I have no doubt that through one
of my siblings, my mother will be your ancestor. So my dear Harriet if I
am a princess, then so too are you ".
Harriet couldn't find words to utter.
" Now that I know for pretty much fact " continued Victoria
" Then came the civil war, somehow the Davenoff's survived and it came
to a queen Tanalee ".
Victoria didn't know how to say it.
" We know she died, and we know that rather than have her child die
with her, or have it taken by the enemy, she gave it, and this is where
fact and fiction become a little cloudy, to the bride of her most trusted
aide, Kalain. The babe, girl, and her father then completely disappeared.
There were rumours and counter rumours where they went or of what they were
doing, but the one that everyone accepted, was that the child was a boy.
I know now that, that was wrong ".
" My mother. I always thought ..".
" She was Kalain's bride. He died beside your birth mother Tanalee
".
" Then grandfather he wasn't… ".
" The blood that flowed in his veins was not yours, but he was
your grandfather and I do not doubt for a moment that they loved you as
their own child ".
" He…. My moth…..they knew ……? ".
" I can only tell you what I surmise. You must speak to him for
what has passed ".
Harriet was quiet for a moment. " I miss him, and he will be anxious
".
" I expect so, but he will soon hear and know what has become of
you ".
" Will you ask Betram to send a message? ".
Another voice filled the room. " If I can speak now, a meal is
prepared ".
Harried looked up in shock " Who's that? ".
Victoria smiled " Oh… you have so much to learn ".
Nicholas was in a state of shock as everything began to come back into
focus. The alcove had somehow transformed into a room that resembled those
in the rebel base.
Riegel was striding away but Nicholas stood rooted to the spot looking
down at his body not sure if he expected it all to be there.
Riegel stopped and turned
" Well are you coming? ".
" How did you do……? How did we? ".
" We have a way that can connect one point to another by. Simply
put you can step between the two ".
" I must tell you Riegel that I feel very uncomfortable with travel
in this manner ". He said uneasily with a feeling as if all the hairs
on his body were stood on end.
" It's quite safe, but the physics limit it to small objects, otherwise
such as I have to show you would be worthless ".
Stepping one foot cautiously forward he followed after Riegel as the
other opened a door.
The room beyond was in darkness but as they stepped forward it became fully
illuminated.
Machines and the moving paintings similar to those he remembered from his
half conscious state covered the nearest wall. What was on the others he
could not see as occupying the central and bulk of the room was a large
red object. That was all he could call it, other than the fact that it was
wedge shaped, a segment of cheese came to mind, otherwise he had no word
to describe it.
Riegel was stood between it and him looking back with pride " well
what do you think of this? ". He said
" Of this? " said Nicholas twisting his body as if to point
it at the thing.
" This is Basilisk, " he stated
" Basilisk… ". Nicholas spoke slowly trying to find an
appropriate answer.
" It's a Basilisk? ". He said not sure what else to say
" No ", said Riegel a little peeved " It 'IS Basilisk'
not is a basilisk ".
" I imagined a monster to be more……..more monster ".
" It's not an animal, it's a machine " said Alexi irritably
" This is the secret weapon? "
" Yes ", said Alexi forcing his patience.
" The secret weapon that can fight the Drakken? ".
" Size isn't everything, " said Alexi breathing deeply "
It' what's packed into it that counts ". He began the introduction
he had practiced. " Basilisk is a piloted version of the scorpion.
An unmanned fighter used by the federation that almost caused the total
extinction of the old civilisations. Thousands of scorpions were in battle,
most were destroyed, and all that remained were taken off the planet. Basilisk
was brought here from the first batch that the Federation acquired. The
scientists were instructed to make it as lethal as possible….. "
Nicholas listened as he moved back along the craft. It was somewhere
in the region of fifteen metres long, about five wide
The rear third was enveloped in wing like structures that curved over the
top as if it joined hands above it's head; there were no windows or doors
only a black stylised dragon painted on its side.
The craft was sideways on, and from that angle Nicholas could see no means
of support; it just hung knee high above the ground in total silence.
He realised Riegel had stopped talking. He was smiling, apparently enjoying
the amazed expression on Nicholas's face.
" Hello Nicholas. I thought you had fully recovered; is that a
new wound on your side? "
The pleasing feminine voice startled Nicholas as he had though only he and
Riegel were in the room. He spun around to see who had spoken, but they
were alone.
" He seems surprised. Surely you have told him about me Commander?
".
Nicholas realized he wasn't hearing the words in the accepted sense,
he was imagining them.
" I'm afraid the right occasion never was at hand ". Muttered
Alexi and directed at no one in particular.
" Oh… ". The voice sounded slightly hurt
Before whoever it was could say anything more Nicholas spoke. "
It seems I am often in the dark. Please I would appreciate you showing yourself
so that we both have the benefit of being face to face ".
" Hmmmmm. That is rather difficult, as there is no specific part
of me that serves that purpose as it does for you; though I do have what
can be termed as a nose ".
Silently the machine in front of him was turning. The flat apex of the wedge
spun around the crafts axis until it was pointing directly at him.
" There ". The voice said in a satisfied tone " Is that better?
".
Nicholas looked at Riegel, his jaw slack and his expression uncomprehending.
" I do believe Nicholas is a little overwhelmed at meeting you,
" said Alexi " Nicholas we are talking to Isla ". He swept
his hand to the red craft. " She is the… I suppose pilot is an
inadequate word. Isla is basilisk, the last space craft built by the scientists
of the planet Earth ".
Nicholas still stood staring in disbelief
" Nicholas " began the feminine voice again " As the
commander says I was assembled by the last of the old civilisation who once
ruled this planet, and before this day is gone I will reveal to you, as
their descendant some of the wonders that have lain forgotten for several
hundred years. The first thing you should know that although I can hear
the words anyone speaks, only those who have inside their skull a communication
link can hear the words I reply. So please ask all you want ".
Suddenly a portion of the hull de-materialised.
" Please step aboard ".
Riegel seemed eager to enter and Nicholas still wary let him go first.
" Who's the commander? " he whispered to him when they were close
together.
" I am " said Alexi
Isla began again " The human race enjoys its creature comforts
so I will quickly show you the accommodation before we get to my workings
", Isla said chattily
As they walked into a narrow passage. There were three doors to their right
and one of them slid sideways. Alexi moved a little further in so Nicholas
could look through the gap
" This is the sleeping quarters and it also doubles as sick bay ".
The room seemed instantly familiar to Nicholas
" There are four sleeping capsules, that can if required be programmed
to suspend animation. Very advantageous, as you will appreciate, if one
is seriously injured.
The third and furthest door opened
" The galley, strange word but those who named it, named it that. This
is where food is prepared. I carry sustenance for a full crew to live without
rationing for thirty Earth days, and before you ask; yes, the food is…..
has not been recently replenished, but it has been stored in a suspension
field. So the lettuce will still be crisp and sweet as it was within hours
of it being taken from the soil…. Some time back. Though… "
the voice raised slightly " ….I advise you to accept that I can
provide you with an unlimited supply of drinking water without asking how
".
They turned again, Nicholas open could the middle door opened onto a
short corridor that ran between the galley and quarters.
At the end was a room that took up the whole width of the craft. Nicholas
felt Alexi pushing him forward.
The room contained two machines, one on either side. There were numerous
pipes and cables running from these to the rear where there were several
large spheres these in turn had larger pipes leading to the rear wall of
the craft. Alexi had an excited expression on his face
" My propulsion systems…. ", stated Isla in an almost
bored way. " Plasma drive… ".
Nicholas looked at Alexi in uncertainty.
" I kind of understand " he muttered softly.
" The memory chip will help a little " he said reassuringly
" Isla can explain later, " he said a little more loudly ".
" Yes commander " said Isla a little sharply. " But it
may interest you both that I can produce enough power to travel the galaxy
forever…… well in relative terms ".
" What happens if the drive stops? ", Nicholas could not resist
asking the question.
" Stops? ". Isla seemed more irked.
" Fails…..Breaks…. " said Nicholas, realising he
had raised an unaskable question.
" In that unlikely event you leave………….. and
very rapidly " was the reply.
Alexi was laughing behind him " Have no fear Nicholas. You will
come to terms with all that you need to know. Come I am hungry we will eat
and then to work ".
Isla was true to the words and the meal, though not elaborate was as
tasty as Harriet had prepared for him. The memory had come on him abruptly
and once in his mind dulled his mood and he had finished the meal in silence.
While they ate Isla had not spoken but as he placed the serving plate
into a sonic cleaner, she began again
" Was the meal to your satisfaction? ".
" Yes. Half a millennia may have even improved the cheese ".
He tried to put Harriet out of his mind. " Why Basilisk? ".
" My creator placed in my memory that an ancient fable that tells
of a creature which had been hatched by a toad from the egg of an old cock,
and before whose breath every living thing withered and died; and whose
eye so bewitched one to his ruin that only the bravest could confront it
".
" Your creator seems to have had a peculiar sense of humour ".
Nicholas said
" Yes. I remember her laughing at the time she first called me
by the name. I believe there may have been a reference to another member
of the creation team ".
Nicholas suddenly realized he was smiling at a jest made by a machine,
he tried to cover it by asking more " Tell me Isla why are you a girl?
".
" Strange question, though actually I can be anything; in the case
of a male pilot my makers gave a female personality to compensate for their
aggressive instincts, in the hope that those tendencies would be tempered
by a passive female voice ".
" They should have a passive voice on the Drakken? ".
" I understand their battle command is male? ".
" It is ". Said Nicholas, " We have conversed ".
" Their thinking is that in a charged atmosphere it is easier to
act aggressively, " said Isla. " …but Nicholas, the commander
tells me that time is short. If you would move to the front cabin we should
continue our familiarization tour ".
Nicholas had almost forgotten that within an hour or two he would be
facing the marshal. The thought both oppressed him and frightened him. Here
he was free and safe.
" Yes ". He said hesitantly as he looked at Alexi " We should
go. I would like to speak with Simeon before…… ".
" Go " Alexi, replied puzzled. This is the most important
part of the instruction ".
" Instruction? " Nicholas looked at him
" Do you expect to fly basilisk with no knowledge whatsoever? ".
" Fly. Me? I …… ".
" Do you expect me to pilot the craft? " said Alexi. "
Haven't I made it clear that I have already broken too many rules. If I
were to pilot a warship on the surface, and take up battle with a ship of
a council member, I would be banished to alpha century. No. That is impossible…..
and unnecessary, Isla has accepted you as her pilot ".
" But I couldn't. I wouldn't know where to start? ".
" That is why you have to listen and learn. Isla will do as you
ask, but cannot act offensively on behalf of the rebellion, so if you do
not sit in the command chair then the rebellion is truly lost ".
Nicholas remembered the keep, and his friends.
He went forward to the very front of the craft
Here there were four seats, two before a bank of instruments at the front
and two over to the right of him before another bank of instruments.
Alexi indicated one at the front for Nicholas and sat in the other himself.
" Observation capsule please Isla ". Said Alexi
The walls to the front and sides from waist to over their heads disappeared
giving the impression that the top half of the craft had never been there.
Alexi saw Nicholas's slack jaw again.
" The craft is made of a photocromaticpolyceramic. Which basically
means that all the walls are transparent. The colour you saw on the outside
is just a manipulation of the reflected photons, the light particles your
eyes respond to. The craft can be rendered invisible to the eye, but not
to the appropriate machine ".
" Commander I am ready to scan "
" Nicholas please put your hands over the controls ".
Nicholas looked vaguely around for anything matching the description
until Alexi indicated two raised domes on the arm rests.
He opened his hands and laid his palms over the smooth convex surfaces.
There was a warm tingling that soon faded.
" Analysing, " said Isla, then a moment later. " You
have control Nicholas ".
Suddenly the craft began to jerk and swing about the room
" I think you should dampen the sensitivity to his reactions for
a while Isla " said Alexi anxiously
The movements eased but the craft was still moving edgily
" Nicholas " said Alexi, " Slide your right hand in the
direction you need to go, but take care not to press down, or lift your
hand, those movements will take us down or up ".
Alexi gave him several minutes to get a feel for the operation and then
he spoke again
" Maybe we should have more space. If you would open the doors please
Isla "
There was a rattle of ancient machinery that reminded Nicholas of the
portcullis, but this time the doors before them rolled upwards.
" Ion Drive. Minimum power " said Alexi.
There was an almost imperceptible whine.
" Outside audio off ". The noise stopped, but the doors continued
to roll upward.
" Right Nicholas keep you hands flat and just slide them forward very……….
slowly ".
They crept forward, but it felt to Nicholas more as if the outside walls
rolled past them.
He dared not look at Alexi, but as they moved along a narrow tunnel he tried
to act calm and began a conversation " What's moving us? ".
Alexi seemed even more concerned with basilisk's position in the tunnel
than Nicholas and replied looking at him. " Ion's. In a planets atmosphere
the engines strip electrons from the air and eject them ".
" Oh ". Nicholas said, trying to sound as if he understood
Alexi either didn't notice or think about Nicholas understanding, and
he spoke robotically
" Outside the atmosphere we will lock on to some body or mass and allow
that to draw us to it ".
" You mean the stars or planets? ".
" It can, but what you see is the merest fraction of what is there.
Most of the substance in space is one or another form of dark matter. It
remains hidden to our eyes but not to the gravdrive ".
The tunnel came to a dead end, blocked off by a solid wall of timber
planks.
Nicholas glanced at Alexi for instructions
" Just keep going " was all he said as Nicholas braced himself
for the impact.
There was none, and basilisk sliced through as if the wall didn't exist.
Suddenly they were out into the main tunnel that he remembered.
" It's an optical illusion, " said Alexi mater of factly. "
But a good one it took me almost two weeks to realize myself ".
Nicholas looked back as Basilisk keeled over slightly taking the turn
without a pause and settled to a position right in the centre. There was
no trace of an entrance from where they had emerged.
They continued talking in short sentences, separated by longer periods
of silence while Nicholas quickly became comfortable in the command chair;
but what Alexi said still came as a shock.
" I can do no more for you Nicholas. Basilisk is yours to command,
and yours alone ".
" You can't go " Nicholas said fearfully " I can barely
fly, I can't fight on my own ".
" But you must, I have explained, I can take no part in your rebellion
".
" I need you otherwise I will fail ".
Alexi could sense Nicholas's panic. " I don't think that is a certainty
".
" I am one against a fully trained crew ".
" Two if you include Isla ", he said trying to make lite of
the odds. " but there are things in your favour ".
Nicholas was at last realising that Alexi meant to go, " I can't
think of any right now ".
" Foe a start, the crew of the Drakken are doing a job, you have
a passion ".
" I think the marshal has a passion to see me dead ".
" A rule of battle is not to hate your enemy, it clouds the judgement
".
" The Drakken is bristling with weapons ".
" Battles are not won by weight of firepower, they are won by placing
hits in the right places ".
Nicholas tried pity as his last persuasion " I want your help Riegel
".
" You want it but you don't need it "
" But I'd feel much more confident with you here ".
" And that is all it is, a feeling. This is that last I can do,
from now on you and your kind must cope with whatever comes to face you
".
" Then it saddens me our parting must be under such circumstances
for there is much I would still like to talk with you on ".
" And I with you, maybe if my own punishment is not too severe
we will meet again ".
They were approaching the abandoned rebel quarters. " Here " Alexi
said " There is a transporter close
He looked at Nicholas and reached to clasp his hand firmly in both of his.
" May your God be with you " he said then he stood and walked
away out of the cabin.
The feeling of loss was greater than Nicholas had expected. His mentor
had gone and now everything depended on him. What was he to do? Hoe could
he take on the Drakken in battle? It was many times the size of his little
ship and undoubtedly had an armoury that was deadly. The thought suddenly
struck him " Isla, how are we armed? ".
" I am equipped with three weapon systems ".
" The Drakken, what does it have that we don't? ".
" That I cannot say, the Military guard their secrets well ".
" Can we face them in battle? ".
" From a pure logic point of view the short answer is no ".
Nicholas's heart sank.
" I a straight attrition battle " Isla continued, " They
would win by being able to bring more firepower to bear on us than I can
on them. That is how capital ships fight. They take as few hits as possible,
and hit back with overwhelming power. So what we must not do is be cornered
where they can do that.
Nicholas's heart sank even further.
" Where I believe we have the edge is in speed and manoeuvrability.
The Drakken is not designed for skirmishing and to chase us will mean they
have to divert power to the engines instead of the shielding ".
In his gloom Nicholas tried to think how he could take the advantage,
but this type of warfare was far beyond his skill. His mind was a blank
and panic had already begun nudging at the edges.
Simeon tried to lift his head high as he walked out into the courtyard,
but the brisk steps and slight smile on his face masked a despair that he
had not felt before.
He looked again for Nicholas, but could see him nowhere. He didn't want
to believe that he would have deserted them, even if it was the sensible
thing to have done, but the proof was in his eyes.
Some of the others were already there; more were coming out of other doorways,
all collecting together close to the stables.
The gate was open and several rebels from down in the city were entering.
Their faces a vision of terror as they beheld the ominous shape of the Drakken
for the first time.
Antour was waiting as he strode over and they clasped each other warmly.
" We fought well, " Simeon said without the conviction that he
felt they had.
" We did ". Replied Antour " but tyranny has no conscience
or convention. He who is prepared to lay waste to all can always make the
last call ".
" Another day, another place it will be different ". Said
Simeon " The fuse has been lit, and long may it smoulder because one
day it will blow up in the faces of the tyrant ".
The guards had begun herding some of the rebels towards the stone steps
that led up to the battlement walkway. Simeon let himself be pushed after
them though he noted they were driven with less violence by the guard than
they had the previous day. Some even passed sympathy in the way they looked
or spoke.
It was along and painful walk up many steps. Until they stood overlooking
the city. It looked so calm and peaceful as the light began to break.
Simeon looked down. There was a small crowd of city folk come to witness
the occasion, they looked so small from this height.
They were stood facing the wall against a coil of rope.
An officer and two guards began making their way along the line, picking
up the rope and slipping a loosely tied loop over each head.
Simeon expected his hands to be bound but none were; he knew there was no
point, a snapped neck and instant death was no more certain than a slow
and agonizing one trying to support the weight of their own bodies from
chocking them.
The rope hung heavy on his shoulders as Simeon looked at the last dawn he
would see. He would face his fate with courage, as were the others.
Far over to his side he could hear crying and the sharp shouts of the guard.
He felt a jab in his back pushing him up onto the top of the wall between
the crenulations.
The dawn was spreading rapidly over the sky and on the distant horizon he
could see the first bird to take wing. It was flying straight and true,
directly towards him.
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