Chapter 28 – Blackmail and Discoveries

Lizzy took a breath as she stood outside at dusk.

Taran's party was getting ready to leave in two days time. She could not be more happy for it. She stood looking out as she kneaded a ball of thick dough to make loaves in the morning. She looked out as the sun began to set and began to sing.

""There is a place on the east
Mysterious ring, a magical ring of stones
The druids lived there once they said
Forgotten is the race that no one know

The circled tomb of a different age
Secret lines carved on ancient stones
Heroic kings laid down to rest
Forgotten is the race that no one knows

Wait for the sun on a winter's day
And a beam of light shines across the floor
Mysterious ring, a magical ring
Forgotten is the race that no one knows.
"

The sound of clapping gave her a start. She looked to the side of her, whirling to face whom it was. She took a breath seeing it was the tall Irishman and nemesis of her husband. "Mr. Horrocks, you gave me a start." She said.

He dipped his head to her. "Pardon, mistress." He said. "You sing so beautifully." He said in his Irish brogue that was quite different from the Scots she had become accustomed.

She smiled at him as he stepped to her she rolled her eyes. "I am married and I have three bairns."

"And you are foreign. James Fraser must have the Devil's own luck."

She whirled to face him. "What?" She looked at him. "How do you know who I am?"

"MacQuarrie told me." He smiled and lifted his hand a little. "Calm yourself my dear. I mean you no harm. Nor your husband."

She rolled her eyes at that. "Of course not." She turned back to her loaves.

He moved behind her and sniffed her hair. "You smell like the blossoms of the fields."

She stiffened as his hand went to her middle. "What are you doing?"

"On the road. Makes a man want in terrible ways."

He was close, far too close and she stood, hand on her dirk a moment, not daring to breathe to see what he would do next.

Taran MacQuarrie came out of the house. "Horrocks." He hissed. "Come let's blether."

Horrocks took a breath and turned to go in the door passed him. Taran looked at Lizzy who took a shaky breath. He looked at her and then nodded. He was not going to allow the Irishman to have his way with a woman unless she was all right with it.

She nodded back and went back to her work.

ZzZ

Jamie walked into the house after being out in the fields. It was passed midday and he needed to find some refreshment. He was happy to know the watch would be leaving the home soon enough. He took a breath. MacQuarrie had promised they would be gone in two days. He would have to deal with Horrocks for two days, but it seemed to be nothing, and yet if the Irishman opened his mouth, he and his wife could face a noose.

Horrocks was speaking in the great room to the other members of the watch. "Now see here." He was saying, his brogue recognizable as not Scottish as Jamie walked in the hall. He paused to listen. "The Chisholm land borders the Fraser's land to the west and the Chisholm rent party will be traveling through this pass tomorrow." He said.

Horrocks was pointing at a map before them as the men gathered about and MacQuarrie sat before them, looking down.

"Out best shot's Lochaber Bridge." He continued. "A day's ride. We take them just after they cross under the bridge. That's a fine spot for an ambush."

No one noticed Jamie in the shadows listening.

"They will be flush then?" MacQuarrie asked.

"Aye. Their sacks will be the fullest with coin and goods."

Jamie walked passed as quietly as he had come, walking toward his office, wraith like. It was a bold good plan, even he had to admit. He had come to like MacQuarrie and how he treated his family. He was like an uncle to his daughters and he would hold Alex for a spell while Lizzy worked on cooking for them.

Horrocks was another matter.

ZzZ

Outside, Mrs. Crook, Jenny, Lizzy, the girls, wee Alex, and wee Jamie were all outside working on laundry. Lizzy had the rinse bowl and she waited for some of the wash to make it to her as she stood.

Ellen was sitting playing with her doll while Janet was watching something in the plants nearby. Wee Jamie was standing before Lizzy and her vat of water. Alex was sleeping in his basket in the shade out of the way. He was still young enough to sleep often.

Jenny smiled at Lizzy. "Efter this, we've git th' mending." She said. "Ye ony guid wi' a needle?" She asked Lizzy.

"Well, I've stitched more wounds than clothes, but I did pretty well for the rent party." She said looking back as Jenny hung up a shirt.

Mrs. Crook dropped two shirts into the water and Lizzy swirled them. Wee Jamie stuck his hands in to help. He then splashed Lizzy who gasped, startled, but then giggled at him as he grinned at her.

Jenny looked back at him. "Jamie hae ye na sense? keek whit ye did tae yer auntie's skirt?"

Lizzy smiled a little as she reached and caressed the cheek. "It's all right. I don't mind." She said grinning.

"Bit ah mynd." Jenny said. "Mrs. Crook."

The house keeper moved. "I'll take him back to the house for a bit of bread and honey." She said moving. The girls had heard bread and honey. Ellen was holding Janet as Mrs. Crook lifted the laughing boy up to carry him to the house.

Jenny sighed. "Be crakin' tae git some chores dane wi'oot a bairn under mah feet. Some days ah kin scarce gang tae th' privy alone." She looked at Lizzy. "A'm sure ye ken th' feeling wi' three. Bit soon he'll hae a wee brother tae plooter 'n' Alex forby."

"How do you know it's not a sister?" Lizzy asked. "Alex caught me by surprise." She said. "I prayed for a boy, but I wondered if I was giving Jamie another lass."

"Jamie wid nae mynd a bawherr." Jenny smiled. "He loues bairns." She looked at Lizzy. "He wis sae feart fur ye whin he nearly lost ye 'n' in th' woods."

"Once he realized it was like having a mare, he did rather well."

"Bit aye efter oor mither..."

"Yes. He told me." Lizzy said moving to hang a shirt up.

Jenny nodded. "Bit this is a laddie. A've hud na mornin' sickness 'n' a taste fur salty fairn, 'n' a'm carrying wee, identical as wee jamie. Tis a laddie, a' richt."

Lizzy smiled and nodded.

"Dae ye hae siblings?"

"No." Lizzy said shaking her head. "None that lived."

"Howfur mingin' fur yer mither tae lose bairns."

Lizzy nodded. "Yes. She was sad at times." She then smiled. "My father aways wanted a boy so he taught me to do sword play and other things that were not normal for a girl." She smiled as Jenny looked at her.

"Oh, aye. Ah heard aboot ye fightin' beside jamie." She nodded to Lizzy's side. "Howfur does it cop?"

"Better." Lizzy said moving back to where she was rinsing.

"Weel tis guid fur a jimmy tae hae a brother. Jamie wis ainlie eight whin we lost willie tae smallpox."

"He said Ian's always been like a brother to him. In France, they were hardly apart. I always felt like I was the extra wheel at times."

"Oh, aye. Thay twa o' thaim wur lik' yin efter willie died, especially in a rammy. Auld john, ian's faither, used tae tell iain his jab wis tae guard his chief's weaker side. 'n' he did. Whin jamie 'n' iain staun shoulder tae shoulder, thare wis na yin wha cuid tak' th' pair o' thaim doon."

Lizzy smiled. "Indeed." She said remembering.

Jenny went to put up a shirt. She made it to the cloths line and then gasped doubling over. Lizzy turned and went to her.

"Jenny?" Lizzy looked at her. "What's wrong?"

Jenny stepped back revealing a wet place on the earth. Lizzy gasped a little knowing what that meant.

"Mah waters hae broken." Jenny took a deep breath. "Looks lik' this laddie's oan his wey."

Lizzy nodded, helping her into the house. "All right, Let's get you inside then." She said, taking over.

Jenny held her middle and looked at her sister-in-law. "Oor wee laddies wull be lik' twins. Identical age." She smiled.

"Yes." Lizzy nodded as she helped her though the kitchen door and up the back stair.

ZzZ

Lizzy helped Jenny out of her clothing and into a clean shift. She then had her lie down and she touched her belly feeling. She took a breath. The baby was not facing correctly.

"Whit's it?" Jenny asked.

"He isn't turned right."

"Sae he's a footing then?"

"Oui." Lizzy said.

"Weel it seems he is determined tae land oan his feet then."

Lizzy took a breath. "We need to try to turn him."

"Aye. Dae ye ken howfur?"

Lizzy sighed. "I can try to move it, but I am not sure it will work."

Jenny nodded. "Mrs. Crook is getting th' midwife. Atween ye, ye shuid be braw."

Lizzy nodded and took a step back a moment. She pressed a hand to her mouth as a sudden wave of nausea hit her like a punch to her face as the worry caught up with her.

Jenny watched as her sister-in-law reached for the clean chamber pot and vomited into it. She thankfully had little in there, but she gasped a moment, closing her eyes, letting her mind and stomach settle. Her hand went to her side where it still hurt to move much due to the wound. Though superficial it still hurt when she moved wrong.

When she did look up, Jenny was smiling at her.

"What?"

Jenny chuckled. "Mah brother is as virile as a bull."

"What?" Lizzy asked standing slowly.

Jenny just smiled at her and turned to her side as Lizzy walked back to her and lifted a hand.

"He wull hae twa bairns in nearly a year. Th' jimmy loues ye as few men dae."

"I'm not pregnant." Lizzy said.

Jenny smiled. "Perhaps."

Lizzy shook her head and then gently caressed Jenny's belly trying to convince the baby to turn.

After a time of it not working she sighed. "I should go tell Ian. He should know what is going on."

"Na. Na need tae worry th' jimmy yit. Ah wull nae be telling him a thing aboot it 'n' neither wull ye."

Lizzy nodded slowly and then sat back.

ZzZ

It was late afternoon as Jamie prowled about his home. He was going to his office when he saw a familiar figure in it. He paused and sighed.

So Horrocks was wanting to speak to him.

He walked into the room looking at the Irishman as he looked in the various books about the room. "Making yersel' comfy?" Jamie asked, regarding the man coldly.

"I was wondering when you'd see me out." He put the book he was holding back on the mantle. "We have a lot to talk about."

Jamie nodded and turned to shut the door. "Then let's blether."

Horrocks walked about the room. "This, this is all yours. Isn't it?"

Jamie watched him silent for the moment. He then looked down a moment.

"Aye, a clocked th' name 'fraser' carved in th' lintel. Who's jenny tae ye?"

Jamie looked at him, but again refused to say anything.

"Very well. Don't tell me. She's bonny." Horrocks moved walking behind him. "So's your bride." He smiled a little. "You have such bonny bairns too. That little Ellen will made many lads cry when she becomes older."

Jamie took a breath and sighed.

"Yeah. They speak about the luck of the Irish. But you, Jamie Fraser, you're a lucky man."

Jamie finally turned to him. "Whit dae yi'll waant, horrocks?"

Horrocks looked at him disarmingly with a hand to his chest. "To sail to the colonies. Boston, I fancy." He said moving a globe.

Jamie stopped it turning and looked at him. "Then dae. Scootlund wilnae lassy ye."

"I'm gonna need money for my venture." He said putting a small box in his pocket.

Jamie watched him. "Ye'll hae plenty in yer pockets efter th' raid oan th' rent pairtie."

"It's a start, but not much of one, not after I divvy the pot with the others." He scoffed a little. "My thinking was maybe you'd be willing to help a fella. Same way as I'm helping you by keeping my mouth shut."

Jamie smiled a little. "Fur a cost, a'm sure."

"You're a canny lad."

Jamie nodded.

"But you put up some money now, and I swear, you'll not see my face again."

Jamie stepped to him, using his size to intimidate the man a little as he put his hands on the globe and leaned forward a little. "Howfur muckle?"

"Well our bride is bonny. Since you have too much honor to allow your former whore of a wife have a night with a lonely fella..."

Jamie reached up and took him by the lapel of his coat. "Ah wid ne'er sell mah wife intae slaverie sae. Na maiter howfur desperate ah wis." He said. "We hae bin thro' awfy much."

Horrocks nodded and smiled. "Shame though. I am sure she could make me forget I needed funds."

Jamie tightened his grip. "She insae a whore."

"Not now certainly. She has the far more honorable profession of the lady of this estate."

"Mah wife insae pairt o' th' deal." Jamie said letting him go and watching him. Money was not really the issue. He had buried his wife's money well enough though he kept a small bag in their room for use. Still he was not going to use her money unless he had to.

He would find another way.

Horrocks nodded. "Very well."

ZzZ

Lizzy walked to where Jenny was pacing about grunting in pain every few minutes.

Mrs. Crook came in. "Mistress?"

Both women turned.

"Thir's word fae th' village. Th' midwife haes gaen tae tak' care o' a fowk member wha haes taken ill." Mrs. Crook said.

Lizzy took a breath and looked at Jenny who looked back at her. Mentally Lizzy was preparing for having to deliver a breech child. She had delivered one breech child, but it had been a twin and the other, larger twin had made room by coming first so it had been easy.

Lizzy rose to her feet and took a breath. "It's all right. It is possible to deliver a breech baby. I'm going to have to reach inside and guide it out, especially if he comes buttocks first."

Jenny nodded a little. "A' richt, bit ye'll be fetching me a guid stiff dram afore we starn."

Lizzy folded her arms. "But then the baby will likely be born drunk too."

"Then he'll come intae th' world a true scot."

Lizzy smiled a little at that and nodded. "All right." She moved to go fetch the things.

ZzZ

The sun was setting as Jamie and Ian were seeing to the wagon outside.

"Ifrinn." Jamie hissed as he stood on it.

Ian looked up at him. "Ever sin thay git 'ere, ye hae th' keek oan yer coupon lik' ye'v git a thistle stuck up yer bahookie . Ye'r provoking thaim."

"Thay burned hay we need fur winter. You'd hae me caw th' ither cheek?" Jamie asked as he threw a broken piece to the side and then looked down at his best friend.

"That's how come ye'v git twa cheeks, ye limmer."

Jamie looked down at him and then roll his eyes before he jumped down.

"Jenny hates th' gey bones o' thaim. Ah cannae ken how come ye dinnae." Jamie said looking at Ian.

"Macquarrie cuid tak' mair fae th' estate than he does." Ian said shifting as they reached to lift a side panel back up. "Juist ask th' MacIntoshes. He's bin easy oan us." He said as they worked to put it on correctly.

"Sae ye'r boon companions wi' him." Jamie said half in disgust.

"Aye, Sae a'm." Ian looked back at him. "'n' if yi'll waant tae ken th' truth o' it, ah keek tae th' future tae his visits." Jamie looked at him startled. "Tae dram whiskey wi' a jimmy wha doesn't keek at me wi' pity, as if a'm some lame cur."

Jamie winced a little at that.

"Mibbie ah favor him fur he's a fighter or fur..." He looked up and stepped toward Jamie. "Fur he reminds me o' ye."

Jamie blinked and nodded a little.

"'n' fur he protects us fae th' redcoats. He pays thaim tae bade awa' 'n' whin thay dinnae he fights thaim."

"Ye pay yin de'il tae protect ye fae anither." Jamie said quietly.

"Ah'ament proud o' it, bit thare it's." Ian stepped closer. "Whit happened 'ere wi' jenny ne'er wull again." Jamie shifted and sighed a little. "Bit na jimmy kin staun up tae that monster randall alone. Nae ye, nae me. It steals an airmie. Th' watch is oor airmie noo."

Jamie nodded slowly and then turned back to the wagon. Ian knew his friend well enough to know something was bugging him.

"Whit's th' maiter?"

Jamie looked about to make sure none of the Watch were about. "That freish jimmy, horrocks. A've met him afore. He kens aboot th' cost oan mah heid. He wants dosh tae keep wheesht." He took a breath. "Though parntly if ah wur willing tae allow him tae kip katie it wid mak' us square."

Ian looked at him. "That jimmy mist be lonely."

Jamie looked at him. "Katie is verra bonny. Ah ken he haes nae hud a wifie in days or months..."

"IDidnae mean that against katie. Ah mean ah ken she haes bin wed fur mair than six years noo." He smiled a little ruefully. "'twas weel enough she wis merrit tae ye whin we wur in france." He sighed. "Bit that wid juist be anither wey tae git under yer skin is a'. Kip yer wife 'n' then demand mair a'm sure."

"Aye." Jamie nodded.

"Whit urr ye aff tae dae then?"

"A dinnae ken." Jamie said softly.

Ian thought about it a moment. "Jenny tellt me aboot a wee sum yer faither left. Tis ferreted awa' in a neuk in th' broch." Ian said laying a hand on Jamie's broad shoulder.

Jamie turned to him sharply. "Ah cannae uise that dosh."

"Hauf o' tis yers by richt. If jenny knew aboot this..."

"She doesn't ken aboot it." Jamie hissed. "'n' a'm waantin' it kept that wey." He sighed. "A wullnae be taking that dosh."

"Aye, ye wull." Ian said firmly gripping his shoulder. "Tis whit she wid waant. Tis whit a'm waantin'."

Jamie looked at him and sighed realizing that was the answer, but he didn't like it.

ZzZ

"Mrs. Crook!" Lizzy called as she came out of the main door to the house. Mrs. Crook looked up at her from the herbs she was picking. "Could you heat up some broth. I want Jenny to keep up her strength."

Mrs. Crook nodded. "Aye. Richt awa' mistress."

"Keep her braun up? whit fur?" Ian asked as he came to her. He and Jamie were there, come back from seeing to the wagon. Jamie was wiping the soot from his hands.

Lizzy smiled a little. "She's gone into labor. It's a little early yet, but your baby is on it's way."

Jamie smiled and clapped his friend on his back.

"Guid speirins. Kin ah see her?" Ian asked.

Lizzy lifted a hand. "No. I don't think that's a good idea. She's a little fussy at the moment. But when the time is right. I will fetch you both."

He nodded. "Aye. ah ken. She wis th' identical wey wi' wee jamie." He moved off to attend to something else as Jamie stepped to the steps and looked up at his wife.

"Something a'm gonnae hae tae tell ye, lass." He walked to her and put an arm around her back. "C'moan ben." He said gently offering his hand. She took it gently and he lifted it to his lips, kissing her fingers a moment before they walked inside, her first, a large hand on her back.

He led the way to their room speaking softly in French so the Watch who saw them would not understand. He spoke to her about the money and she nodded. However, he did not speak English until their door was shut.

Once there he took a breath. "Ye wur richt. Bit that dosh belongs tae ye. Fur oor sons 'n' daughters. Ah wanted tae fill this hoose wi' oor bairns." He said looking about. "Haun doon th' guid fraser name."

"We have a good start." She said softly. "Three babies in six years." She looked at him and half smiled.

"Four." He said softly. "That wee laddie ye carried fur me wull nae be forgotten. Even if ah didnae ken him."

She nodded a little and took a breath. She would never forget, but her husband seemed to wish to honor his memory as much if not more than she did. After the festivities of the Quarter Day, he had gone and lit a candle for him in the family cave chapel and prayed for him.

Being stillborn, he would not have a soul, according to Catholic dogma, but Jamie still would pray for him, his parents, his brothers, both of them, and those living.

Lizzy took a breath and walked away from him. "Jenny thinks I am carrying again."

He turned to her looking at her, startled.

"I told her, I couldn't possibly. Alex is only three months old. I am nursing. I can't possibly be."

He smiled a little at her and stepped forward. "Ah hud begun tae suspect as weel."

She looked at him, this time it was her turn to be startled. "What?" She stared at him. "You can't tell. It is far too soon to be sure!" If she was, she was less than six weeks along. They could not know yet for sure. She needed to confirm in a couple more months to...

He smiled a little more. "'n' me a farmer tae! ye haven't ever bin late in yer courses in a' th' time sin ye foremaist teuk me tae yer kip." He stepped closer. "Ye haven't bled noo fur forty-seven days." He said firmly.

"You counted?" She gasped. The bastard, she thought. After five children she should know what it felt like to be so, but with the Watch about she hadn't really noticed her missed courses. She had not been regular at all as a young woman and the court doctors had bled her and then made her drink raspberry leaf tea and eat raw liver. It had helped even if the beef liver was nasty at first. She actually had developed a taste for it.

"Ye didnae?" He countered almost playfully watching her.

"No..." She said suddenly feeling a wave of nausea, but she swallowed it down.

He cocked his head at her as she took a breath and opened her eyes.

She looked at him. "You didn't notice the one time!" she blurted.

"Och ah hud, ah juist didnae think muckle o' it 'til ye tellt me aboot oor foremaist wee laddie." He reached and caressed her arms. "We havenae dane anythin' tae prevent it, either." He sighed. "Ah didnae ken wi' ellen, bit janet, ah realized whin ye tellt me 'n' ah counted back." He grinned a little. "Alex wis easier tae tell."

She sighed and he came to her. "Ah dae worry fur ye though. Sae mony hings kin gang wrong. Ye suffering 'n' in pain hurts me a maiter o it does ye. Tae hear ye scream 'n' nae hulp th' pain...takes a'maist mair braun than ah hae." He swallowed hard. "Whin we wur in th' croft. Listening tae ye, peepin' ye. Ah a'maist fur nae bear it."

She smiled. "I don't mind the pain."

"Ah do." He said. "A'm sorry fur it wi' ilk bairn ye bring intae th' world fur me."

She touched his cheek, but then he hugged her to him and bent his head, kissing her neck tenderly. He then stepped back from her.

"Ah shuid nae keep ye fae jenny."

"Of course." She said. "Don't worry. She's in good hands."

Jamie lifted her small hands in his massive ones and kissed each before he took them both in one hand and caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Th' best." He said and smiled.

She turned and walked away.

He sat down on the chest and sighed. He could not believe it. She was carrying another bairn. The second in a year.

Every birth was dangerous for a woman and the bairn. He needed to find a way to keep her from becoming pregnant. She would need rest after spending a year bearing his bairns. He would look into what to do to prevent it and to keep his wife safe, after this bairn came.

For now, he would do everything to keep her and his ever growing brood safe. He narrowed his eyes. He would pay Horrocks off and perhaps he could just kill him and be done with it.

He had sworn never to kill again after killing an innocent while at France, something he had told his wife about only far later, though she had been in the town, with the officers, speaking for women who had been attacked by the other army, giving them a voice.

Still. He would go anything to keep them safe.

ZzZ

Lizzy took a breath and lit a candle as she walked to the chapel. She had made sure Jenny was well for a while. She needed to do something she did not often do.

Pray.

Because it was built into a nearby hillside it was always cool and dark, much like a cave and in face was a small cave that did not go far back.

She walked to the large sculpted metal crucifix. She held her gifted et rosary and looked at the crucifix before her. On the alter below it was a carved statue of the Virgin Mary.

Though not a Catholic by birth, her husband had baptized her using her new name, Catherine Elizabeth. She looked at the crucifix and sighed as she lit candles for Jenny and others.

She had finished her prayers and shifted to rise, but found that not eating in the say caught up to her. She dropped, soundless to the earthen floor in a dead faint, clutching her rosary.

It was how Horrocks found her.

There had been a storm that came in, rain pelted down, and Jamie realized that Lizzy was not among their number. She was still new enough to the area that if she were out, she could have been lost.

The Watch joined in the search for her an hour after night fall.

Horrocks found her, unconscious, slumped on the padded knee bench. He gently lifted her up to him and carried her the hundred yards back toward the house.

"I found her!" He called.

Jamie and MacQuarrie ran toward him. Jamie touched her face as she started to come around, blinking at the rain on her eyelashes.

"Katie!" Jamie said looking at her, his massive hands lifting her head and forcing her to look at him. "She isnae hurt."

"No she was in the chapel." Horrocks said. He passed her to Jamie who took her.

She shivered a little at the cool rain and he took her back to the house. "I need to check on Jenny." She whispered. "And I need to feed Alex." She said pushing from him.

He shook his head. "Alex foremaist 'n' then git some fairn in ye." He said. "Mrs. Crook said ye neglected tae sloch th'day."

"I forgot." She said and he set her in a chair and lifted the whimpering boy who had woken from his nap.

She sighed letting him latch on as she looked up at Jamie who was pacing before the fire to dispel some of his nervous energy he had had.

"Ye cannae forgoat yersel' mah loue. Ye shuid be eating mair noo sin thare ur twa in yer body tae feed. 'n' alex suckling fae ye."

She shook her head. "We don't know that for sure."

He smiled a little. "Ah do." He said tenderly. "Yi''ll need fairn 'n' rest 'n' then ye kin see tae jenny. Mrs. Crook wis wi' her while ye wur awa'. She haes nae made progress."

"No."

"Is something wrong then?"

She looked down.

He lifted her chin with a finger. "Tell me."

She took a breath. "The baby is breech." She said. "Don't worry Ian." She said softly.

He shook his head. "Ah kin worry enough fur th' baith o' us."

"Jamie...she will be fine. I just have to reach in and turn it."

"Och is that a'?"

She looked at him. "I did it once with a mare."

He took a breath and then nodded. "Aye. Ye did."

A thunder clap made them all jump and Alex drop Lizzy's nipple as he started to cry, scared at the sound. Lizzy hushed him as she pressed her breast to his lips again.

Jamie caressed the fine hair on his head. "Rest yer head lad."

ZzZ

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