Chapter 8
"Crap crap crap craaaaaap!" Arnold yelled as he ran down the alley way. Bullets continued to riddle the buildings around him as he ran for his life.
He turned around just ever so slightly to see blue uniforms and flashlights quickly starting to gain ground on him. Like one of those bad dreams you had as a kid. No matter how hard you ran, the monster would always catch you.
Arnold looked back up to see the end of the alleyway approaching fast." Yes!" He said to himself between deep breaths." If I get there… before they do… I should have time… to hide from them."
As soon as he rounded the corner to his right, he fled into the open street.. However, no luck. All the buildings seemed to be occupied. He passed a few lit up buildings before darting into another alleyway.
Quickly, he darted inside, flashlights pointed in the direction he had been running just seconds before." Where did he go?!" He heard a voice yell out." Keep looking, move up!"
He frantically looked around for a place to hide. Just a little way down the alley laid a large, green dumpster." Perfect!" He whispered to himself with a grin.
He quickly darted to the big green canister and hid himself behind it. Arnold immediately grabbed his tight chest and collectively tried to regain his breath.
Taking in deep breaths, he tried to stay quiet and listen for footsteps on the street.
"Keep looking!" He heard a deep voice yell from the street as a stampede of cops ran past the alleyway.
Relieved, Arnold laid his head back against the dump and inhaled a huge sigh of relief. He closed his eyes for a second as he continued to try and regain his breath. The night might have been cold. But he could feel sweat drip down his face and fall onto the cold concrete below.
"HEY!" A voice startled Arnold. Causing him to jerk his head up and open his eyes. He was greeted with the beam of a flashlight shining bright to the dead end of the alleyway." I think he might be hiding down here!"
'Crap!'Arnold thought to himself as he heard the stampede of officers return to face the alley. A collection of flashlight beams could be seen gathering at the end of the alley.
"Tread slow!" He heard the same deep voice officer yell out." He could be hiding behind any of this trash down here. If you see him, don't hesitate and shoot on sight!"
Just like that, almost in synch, Arnold could hear the footsteps slowly start to creep towards him.
Frantically, he looked around for a place to hide. However there wasn't anywhere to go. The alleyway was a dead end and if he dared to move into their view they would shoot on sight.
'Well, I guess this is it.' He thought somberly as he silently fell back into the dumpster behind him once more. He let his left arm go limp, causing it to nudge the cinder block wall beside him.
However, when his arm connected with the wall. He heard the faint sound of the block grind against the others ever so slightly.
As the police officers continued to slowly approach him, his eyes opened wide." There's no way." Arnold whispered to himself. He instantly crouched and placed two hands on both sides of the fairly large block. He pulled on it very gently and the block started to slide right out of hole.' As big as it is, I should be able to fit!'
Slowly and steadily, he worked the block out of the hole. The footsteps continued to grow closer and closer, just a few feet away from the dumpster now.
Using all his upper body strength, he hoisted the block out of the hole. He could hear the footsteps slowly starting to catch up with his progress.
Thinking fast, Arnold dove inside the hole as silently as he could. Just as he had thought moments before, he fit perfectly through the hole.
"Gotta cover my tracks." He whispered to himself once more as he grabbed the block from outside. The cops were just mere feet away from his position now.
He grabbed the heavy block and lifted it with all his strength.
"Hey!" The deep-voiced cop yelled out." Check behind this dumpster right here! I'll bet if he's anywhere, it's right back here!"
The deep-voiced cop raised his pistol and his light as he slowly rounded his way around the large canister." Come out with your hands up!" The bulky Caucasian man called out into the night.
A small crumpled up piece of paper rolled out from behind the corner. Right in front of the large man.
He smiled from ear to ear as he cocked back the hammer on his gun with an effective click." I got you now." He said in a low voice.
"HA!" He yelled aloud as he whipped his head and gun around the corner of the canister.
"Huh?" His jaw hung open in confusion as he stared at the bare block wall across from him.
…
"Get back to the street!" Arnold could hear the muffled voice of the same cop yell at the other deputies." I think he cut back across the street. He may have a big lead on us now!"
Through the muffled sounds through the wall, Arnold could hear the stampede of cops finally leave him alone.
With a huge sigh of relief. He fell back onto the floor underneath him. His ears still rang from all the shooting and chaos he had just had to witness just a few moments ago.
He felt all up and down his body. Inspecting himself to see if he was okay. No wounds, no blood, no anything. He felt as the rapid heartbeat in his chest slowly started to slow back down to normal. The rapid rising of his chest slowly started to ease back down.
It all felt like a dream to him at the moment. As Arnold Shortman rested his eyes on the cold concrete floor he laid on, for just a moment he felt peace. For the first time in over twenty four hours, he felt peace film his heart.
He looked up to see mangled bars hanging from many different directions on the ceiling above him. The light of the moon was starting to illuminate the ceiling with an eerie white glow.
Arnold felt his chest to feel that his heartbeat was now slowing back down to normal again. He inhaled and exhaled a sigh of relief as he scanned his surroundings of the building he found himself inside of.
He scanned the empty bleachers in the large dome he found himself inside. Dust and old wooden boards covered the floor of the huge coliseum. Little bits of plaster and metal had fallen from the ceiling, creating small holes for the white of the moon to shine through.
However the place seemed strangely familiar. Almost like he had been here before. He turned around to look at the seats on the opposite side of the coliseum. More of the same. Wood, plaster, and metal bars laid to rest in the dusty bleachers.
That's when it hit him.' This is where I saved Sammy Redman from getting hit by a hockey puck.' He smiled from the fond memory.
'That guy Sammy sure was a character. I'm glad I could help him and his son grow a better bond.' He looked at the floor and huffed. He kicked a small piece of plaster with his foot. White dust flew up as a small echo crackled throughout the stadium.
"But that was a long time ago. I was a much better person back then. " Arnold whispered to himself as looked back up at the seats." Hell, I don't even know where Sammy is anymore. I'm sure he moved on to bigger and better things than this dump of a city."
Arnold sighed, still trying to relive the old forgotten memory." At least grandpa had a good time with Sammy." Arnold said to himself with a grin. He sure did have fun trying to get some money out of Sammy. I sure am glad he-"
Arnold's eyes suddenly widened." Oh no." He said to himself. He felt his heart rate pick up again. The world around him went hazy. He felt his whole body go numb.
"My grandparents." He said to himself." I have got to make sure they're safe!"
…
"Criminy… this is friggin' crazy!" Helga Pataki said to herself as she took a sharp right turn to check another street." There's no way Arnold would actually rob a bank. There's no way! Surely he would be too smart to do anything like that!"
Helga shifted her position in the seat of the car as she leaned back against the seat and sighed. She rested her chin on a free folded hand as her eyes studied each side of the road.
"Come on!" She whispered to herself." I still can't believe it! Arnold, out of all people. There's no way it was him! It has to be a mistake!"
She shook her head as she thought back to the events that transpired just a few moments before.
…
30 minutes ago
"What the hell…" Helga mumbled to herself as she rolled to a stop on the street. She saw the band of police cars gather around the front of the small bank.
She watched as the cops all hopped out of the doors of their patrol cars and instantly unholstered their weapons.
"Must be expecting a big fight…" she said softly to herself again. She brushed a few loose strands of hair from her view as she continued to watch with a confused expression on her face.
One of the cops, a young Caucasian man bursted through the front door. Helga watched in awe as she kept her focus on the cop. Suddenly something caught the corner of her eye. She looked to see a green pickup truck heading straight out of the alleyway. The cops never even gave it a second look. They focused all of their attention on the bank.
"That's weird…" she mumbled to herself." Why wouldn't they investigate that? That's clearly the bad guys getting away!" Helga shrugged as she sat back in the seat of the car, preparing herself for a show.
"Idiot cops…" she muttered to herself." That's the people that protect our city every day. Just as corrupt as the man who basically runs this city."
She shook her head to clear the thoughts that were clouding her mind." Oh well." She said as she shrugged her shoulders." Might as well sit here and get a nice show. It might be enough to make this day a little better."
However, she would soon find out that would not be the case.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
Helga recoiled forwards in her car. The loud ringing of gunshots had startled her. She gripped her steering wheel hard as she watched the cops start to flood into the building.
Gunshots continued to ring throughout the night. The white fire from the guns lit up the neighborhood around them. Helga watched as the lightshow of police officers finally disappeared inside the bank.
"Crimimy!" Helga said with her eyes wide." I didn't know this side of town was so rough! I thinks it's about time I-"
She was about to make the suggestion of going back home until she saw someone running out from behind the bank. They were following the same exact path that the pick up truck had just gone down.
She narrowed her eyes and studied the person. She saw large tufts of blonde hair sticking up on his head. She could tell by the way he walked and carried himself that he was a man. And for a split second. He looked in Helga's direction.
And her heart sank.
She just stared. Her mouth hung open in shock as she watched the football headed loverboy shoot down the hopefully empty alleyway.
Helga closed her eyes and slowly leaned forward. She calmly rested her forehead on the steering wheel of her car. She felt her heart rate pick up. Her hands began to sweat as she gripped the steering wheel. She inhaled and exhaled a sigh.
"It's got to be a mistake." She said to herself nodding to herself. Giving herself some kind of reassurance. Anything helped at this point.
"I need to go get him." She said to herself. She nodded to nobody and shifted the car back in drive. She inched her way down the hill that led down to the bank parking lot.
"If the cops get to him he'll end up dead for sure." She said as she turned into the parking lot. From here she could cut across and to the next street across. "It should be easy to spot to get to Arnold from there." She said to herself once again.
"Maybe, just maybe I can find him!"
…
"I don't think I'll be able to find him!" She announced to herself as she came to a stop at a lone red light.
By now, the sun was gone and the bright light of the moon was shining down upon the city of Hillwood. Its luminous light illuminated the city with an eerie glow.
Helga looked back to her right. She studied the sign above her and sighed." That's the street he disappeared on. I've checked every other street in the nearby area, and no sign of him!"
She chewed on her lower lip for just a moment as she pondered over what to do.
Seeing the love of her life run for his life from the corrupt police had torn her apart." If he's dead then…" she stopped herself. She could feel tears threaten to slip down her cheeks." I'll never forgive myself."
She shook the thoughts from her head. The light turned green and she took a right turn to the empty street. She studied the sidewalk from left to right.
Her eyes focused on the left side of the street. Looking as hard as she could. Then to the right to study and search some more. Her eyes followed the same pattern for a bit.
Left
Right
Left.
Until she saw the old hockey coliseum. And for a moment, a warm smile spread across her face.
Memories of watching the games there as a child flooded her mind. She remembered cheering on the players as they beat the crap out of each other." Good memories." She said with a smile as she turned back to the road.
However, as she looked up, someone was standing in the road! She slammed on the brakes just in time before heading a small THUMP on the hood of the car!
"Son of a-!" She yelled aloud in shock. She peered over the steering wheel wheel to see a hand come up in the air. Almost like it was telling her to stop.
She watched in awe as the football head often dreamed of stood up in front of the car. Her jaw hung open in shock as he peered inside of the car to look at Helga.
Arnold squinted his eyes to look in the car. He saw the shocked look of the lady's jaw. Blonde hair hid the rest of her face as it had fallen down over her eyes.' Crap, I think I need to help her! I think I scared her!' He thought to himself as he jogged over to the window of the car.
"Excuse me ma'am!" Arnold said aloud. He tapped on the glass but the blonde lady continued to just stare at the steering wheel she clung to.
'Is she okay?' Arnold thought to himself as he tapped on the glass once again.
Finally, the lady removed her hands from the steering wheel. She parted the hair from in front of her face and moved it out of the way. She looked over at the window and Arnold's jaw was now the one hanging down in shock.
He recognized that face from anywhere. He just stared into the ocean blue eyes of Helga G. Pataki.
'Get in the car, now!' He saw her mouth through the window as she pointed at the passenger seat next to her. Thankfully the street had been silent and no one had seen this exchange that had gone down between the two blondes.
Arnold quickly obliged and jogged to the opposite side of the car. He quickly opened the door and darted inside of the car.
Helga turned, ready to shout at Arnold. She had her fist raised in the air as she turned to him when she was suddenly met with his strong embrace.
"Helga!" Arnold said as he dug his head into her shoulder." Thank God! Someone I can trust!"
Helga felt her face grow warm. Her heart melted as she hugged the football head back. She took a moment to take a whiff of his scent. He smelled of sweat and soot. And the reminded her as to why she had been tracking him down in the first place.
"Alright, bucko!" She exclaimed as she broke the embrace. Arnold sat back as she put the car in drive and continued her roll down the street.
"I want to know everything!" She said as she pointed at him." Why the hell are you robbing banks?!"
Arnold's eyes grew wide as shame made his heart sink once again." Look, Helga." He said in a low voice." I can explain everything!"
"Yeah, you got a good bit to explain, hairboy!" She said as she slammed the brakes hard at a red light. She turned the AC on in the car as she felt her ears grow hot from anger.
"Look, Helga." Arnold said, keeping his voice as law and as calm as ever." I can explain everything. But for now, I need to get back to my grandparents house. I need to make sure they are safe!"
"You can do that later!" Helga replied with a huff." I need answers, now! I searched for you for an hour and I am not going home empty handed! I need to know what's going on!"
"Helga!" Arnold replied, urgency in his tone now." I would love to tell you everything, and I will tell you everything! But right now, I need to make sure my grandparents are okay!"
Helga noticed the urgent tone in his voice and looked over to make sure he was okay.
"Please, Helga." He said, as he looked at her. Helga noticed the look to be one full of fear and doubt.
"I'll tell you on the way." Arnold said calmly as cleared his voice." But please, Helga. Get me to my grandparents house, and fast!"
Helga looked over at Arnold one more time. She had every reason in the book to doubt Arnold. Heck, she should be doubting Arnold right now. But looking into his green football head eyes, the eyes that had haunted her dreams since she was a kid. There was no way she could say no to him.
"Okay, fine!" She spat as turned back to face the road." You convinced me, football head!"
"That's gre-"
"No no no!" Helga said as placed a finger against his lips. Arnold was amazed, he had never met anyone who could multitask like this and still be able to drive a straight line. He knew he sure wouldn't be able to.
"You tell me the story on the way there. And, you give me directions to the house!" Helga said as she removed her finger from his lips. Arnold couldn't tell but her fingers were red hot from brushing against his soft lips.
"Deal!" Arnold replied as he turned to face the road.
Helga nodded in return as she looked to see the light had turned green.
"Take a right here." Arnold said, as he nodded towards the street.
Helga obliged as she put the pedal to the metal. Arnold felt himself sink back in the seat as he felt the car pick up speed.
He looked over at Helga and found himself with a goofy smile as he looked over at her. Her eyes stayed glued to the road as she tightened her grip on the steering wheel. She blew a small pink bubble with the gum she was currently chomping down on.
'What a woman.' He thought to himself as he continued to dreamily look at her.
" Hey!" Helga yelled at him. Successfully breaking Arnold out of his trance. Arnold looked up to see she hadn't even taken her eyes off of the road.
"I need directions and a story, hair boy!" She said in a stern voice as she slowed the car down to a stop at the crosswalk.
"Yes ma,am." Arnold said as he cleared his voice. He looked over at Helga and for the first time today, felt a small smile creep to his lips.
…
"And that's how I ended up in this mess." Arnold finished with a long sigh.
"Oh, right here. The house will be just one more left turn and up the block!" Arnold said as he sat up in the seat. Helga nodded in return with a confused look on her face.
"So, wait a second." Helga replied as she eased the gas pedal to the floor. She gently nibbled on the index finger of her left hand as she looked to be deep in thought." Sid made you do this by basically putting your grandparents up for ransom?"
"Yeah." Arnold said with a huff." I guess he knew that was the only way to make me do what he wanted me to. Robbing a bank is crazy!"
'Thank you!' Helga said to herself as a smile crept up her face.' My sweet prince hasn't yet been corrupted by the foul streets of this once fine city. I just hope his grandparents are okay!'
"Well, here we are." Helga said a low tone as she flipped her left blinker on and turned onto the empty street.
Instantly, blue lights could be seen illuminating the nearby buildings.
Arnold sat up in his seat and felt his heart drop. Helga slowed down a bit as they approached the house. Two cop cars were parked along the side of the street. Outside, two officers were sitting on the hood of a car enjoying a cigarette.
Arnold reached to open the door but was suddenly grabbed by Helga. Arnold felt her strong grasp pull him towards her. He looked over at her, his face just inches from her.
He wanted to speak but the warm breath from her madea calm sensation spread all the way to his toes. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.' Why is this so weird?!' He asked himself as he felt Helga forcefully push him back in his seat.
Helga huffed as she finally got the football head out of her face.' Criminy!' She thought to herself.' That was a close call there!'
"Get in the back." She said to Arnold as she motioned towards the backseat.
Arnold shot her a confused glance." Why would I get in the back?" He quietly asked her.
Helga rolled her eyes at the still ever so dense football head she loved." Because if they see you, you are dead! Doi!" She said through her gritted teeth as she practically shoved him in the backseat.
"Ow!" Arnold said in a whisper.
Helga rolled her eyes as she got even closer to the cops." Hurry and get under the seat, Arnold." She said as quietly as she could. However, all she could hear in response was a muffled "mhmm" from under the seat.
Hearing this gave her a feeling of relief as she rolled down her window and the two cops approached her. It was quite dark out but Helga could still get a close enough look to see what the cops looked like.
They were both Caucasian. The one to her left had on his blue police cap and sported a thick, greasy, and black goatee. The one to her right sported a clean shave with a long blonde mullet down to his shoulders. He wiped a few stray hairs out of his face as he continued to approach Helga's car.
A bright light suddenly blinded Helga as she heard a raspy voice speak to her." How are you doing tonight, ma'am?"
"Just peachy." Helga responded as she shielded her eyes from the blinding white light the cop was wielding at her.
"Sorry about that ma'am." The cop said, lowering the light out of her face.
"Yeah, there's a dangerous criminal on the loose." The mullet cop said aloud in a thick country accent as he looked in the back window of Helga's car. The bright light radiated all throughout the car. She felt her heart rate accelerate as she thought back to Arnold under the seat
"Is that so?" Helga asked, sticking her head out of the window. She shot an innocent smile at the goatee cop and he just sent her a small grin back. She looked back to see the mullet cop still examining her car even further.
"Excuse me ma'am." The mullet cop asked Helga as he shined his light back up at her." Do you mind if we search your vehicle?"
Helga felt her heart drop. Her eyes widened as she tried her best to stay calm." Well um…" She said as calmly as she could. She licked her lips, trying to stall and think of a good excuse to use.
"Come on, Jared." The goatee cop said, looking over at his coworker." It's late at night and she's a nice girl. I don't think she has anything to do with this."
Helga felt a warm smile spread across her face.' Well criminy, for once something goes right!'
"Well, Bill." Jared said, pointing his light at his co-worker. It almost looked like he was trying to interrogate the man." We have to check everyone. Mr. Scheck told us to."
'No no no!' Helga felt her heart drop again as Bill sent a knowing look towards Jared.
"Come on man." Bill said with a smirk." You know just a well as I do it would be stupid to come back here, knowing we would be here! Besides, his grandparents are looney anyways. There's a reason the nursing home came and picked them up this morning."
From under the seat, Arnold raised a brow. He pushed his head farther into the leather under the seat to try and hear the altercation going on outside.
Helga herself also raised a brow. She knew that Arnold's grandparents were crazy but not that crazy. She knew that he still lived with them. Heck, that was the whole reason she drove like a maniac to this part of town.
"Wait a second." Helga asked the cops curiously." What made the grandparents of this place so looney?" She smiled innocently, hoping this would make her look even less suspicious.
The cops looked at each other." See." Bill said, shooting a knowing look at his partner." I told you she didn't know these people."
"Yeah yeah." Jared replied, mocking his partner in a smarteleck tone." Well if you're wondering, lady." He said, shooting a look towards Helga." These people are just really darn crazy from old age. And Scheck doesn't like to deal with old folk anyway. Think he has some sort of soft spot for them."
"Is that so?" Helga asked, with a confused and innocent look on her face. Just making her case of innocence even stronger.
"Yeah." Bill said, nodding towards his partner." Something about Scheck's old man had bad health issues. I don't know. Not many people do know."
"Ohhhhh." Helga said, nodding her head. Trying to act like she was at least half interested in the conversation.
"Yeah." The cop replied." And the note on the fridge said that today was pick up day and they had been waiting to move there for a few weeks now."
'That note was never on the fridge. At least I didn't think it was…' Arnold thought to himself. Under the seat, he racked his brain.
"So." Jared picked up the story back up." We went to Hillwood Inn. A little retirement home just a few blocks away. We went inside and found them and boy they were crazy."
"You don't say?!" Helga said, putting a shocked look on her face now. Yeah, the cops had to know she was innocent now.
"Yes ma'am." Bill said as he sniffled and adjusted the small blue cap on his head." Those folks were crazy. Well the grandpa was. He sat around and gibbered nonsense the whole time. Said he was an old World War 2 vet. But he also told me that Raspberries will change your life forever. And he also told me that Woodstock changed his life as well. That's when he got up and ran around the room like a crazy man!"
'Sounds like grandpa.' Arnold thought to himself with a grin as he continued to listen from underneath the seat.
"And the poor grandma." Bill continued." Well she's already in bad health. She never left her spot on the couch."
"What do you mean?" Helga asked, feeling her heart sink a little now. She had no idea Gertie was down in health nowadays.
"She's very weak." Bill said with a sigh." Can't stand on her own without a walker." He stopped talking for a second. Almost like he was pretty upset about the whole thing." I asked her about her grandson one time and she just looked up and asked me who he was."
'Oh no.' Arnold thought to himself. He felt his heart drop as he closed his eyes to think.' It has to be an act. It has to be!' He tried to calm himself. He needed to keep it together right now.
"Anyways." Jared said. He released a loud grunt that cleared his voice." It was nice talking to you, lady. But we have a missing person to find."
"Oh yeah, right!" Helga said as she shifted her car back into drive." It's late and I need to get home. I think my dad is expecting me." She said in a very convincing way.
"Have a good night ma'am." Bill said as he tipped his hat to her and walked away. Jared just nodded and walked back with Bill to the building.
"Asshole." Helga muttered under her breath and she rolled the window back up.
From under the seat, Arnold was still trying to gather himself.' She has to remember who I am! I mean, I've lived with her my whole life!'
That's when he thought back to what his grandpa had told him earlier that day.'She couldn't remember the name of her son that disappeared so many years ago.'
"Hey, hairboy." Helga said, breaking Arnold from his thoughts." You can crawl back up here now."
He shook the thoughts from his head as he pulled himself out from underneath the seat." Thanks, Helga." He said quietly as climbed back into the front seat.
"Close call, right?" Helga said with a chuckle as she took a right onto the next street, heading up into town.
"Yeah." Arnold said quietly, focusing on the road." Where exactly are we headed, Helga?"
"Not back to your grandparents house." She said with a huff. She looked over to see Arnold giving her a knowing stare.
"Just kidding." She said with a smirk." We're headed back up into town. I figured I could see if you could stay at Gerald's tonight."
"Well." Arnold said with a sigh." That would be a good idea if his family wasn't there."
"What does that matter?" Helga asked, shooting him a confused look.
"I can't take the risk of getting them hurt, Helga." Arnold said with a sigh." I have enough on my plate already." He said, lowering his voice considerably.
His mind went back to the whole event. The flashing lights, Stinky saving his life, and Stinky sacrificing his life. Arnold looked at the ground in shame.' I need to tell Helga about that. I need to tell Helga everything. And I need to find out why my grandparents were moved to a retirement home!'
"I didn't think about that, hair boy." Helga said as she sighed and gritted her own teeth.' Crap.' She thought to herself.' Am I really about to offer what I think I am?'
"If anything I can just find a place to hide out on the street tonight." Arnold said in a low voice as he looked up and out his passenger side window." I may find a place down in the sewers to stay tonight."
"Or." Helga said as she shot him a knowing look.
"Or what?" Arnold asked, looking at her with confusion painted all over his face.
Helga looked at the confused boy and sighed.' Why does he have to be so dense sometimes? Criminy, don't freak out Helga!'
"Why don't you just camp out at my place tonight, football head?"
Authors Note: Holy Cow. I know I promise I would be back last time!! Ugh! I'm so sorry everyone again. If anyone is still sticking with me and this story then thank you thank you thank you!!
Anyways, I wanted to say that over the past few months I just really fell out of writing and doing anything creative in general. I've still been interested in this story I just haven't been myself. Life has changed for me so much recently. I know for a fact I want to finish this story. You guys deserve that much from me. But other than that, I have no idea what I'll do next. I know I want to totally revise my first HA story and just finish that whole story in one fic! I've gone back and done a lot of thinking and I really just don't like several things I did with that story! But anyways, thank you everyone for everything you guys have done. And for always sticking with me! You guys really are awesome!