| Mandm |
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| Part 30.040 ‑ Deadly results |
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This story is a complete work of fiction. Whilst some research effort has been made, nothing should be taken as factual, in particular anything to do with medical, legal, technical, political, social, educational or religious issues. Any opinions expressed are those of the characters, not necessarily the author's.
Saturday morning, Daniel, Audrey, Samuel and Natalie arrived. Once through the front door, they went to the reception desk, Isha immediately stood up, "Hello, I recognise you, you're some of the nice people who helped us when we came here. Have you got a reservation because I don't seem to have you, and we haven't got two rooms free, so unless we turf out some of our present guests, which I don't think would be very nice for them, I'm afraid I don't know what to do."
Audrey was the first to recover, "No, we're not staying. Isha? That's your name?" "Yes, we all have our names embroidered on our dresses so that our guests know who they're talking to, though Midge and Molly don't because they don't know who is which, so we all have to guess their names. Did you want to talk to them even if you don't know what to call them?" "Yes, please, they should be expecting us." "Oh, all right, but they didn't tell me, but then nobody tells me anything, or maybe they did and I've forgotten, because I'm not Kitty, she remembers everything. Well, I think she does, but then she may have forgotten what I've forgotten, so then I'd have no way of knowing. Well, now you're here, I suppose I should let Midge know. Or it might be Molly."
Isha picked up her desk phone, made the call, "Oh, hello, yes, you have four nice visitors … yes, all right then, thank you." To the visitors, she said "Someone will be here in a moment, I'd ask you to sit but we only have two chairs here, and unless two of you sit on the others' laps, I'll have to get some more chairs. Oh, here they are. That's four girls, not more chairs."
The girls came to their visitors, there were hugs and kisses between them. When they'd let each other go, Audrey said "Well, first impressions are it's very nice. Second impression was Isha here. What a lovely girl. Though maybe a bit overwhelming." Midge answered, "Yes, that's one way of putting it. Thank you, Isha, we'll take them away from here, resolve your chairs crisis." "Oh, thank you. When Isabel was here it would have been difficult, with this lot it would have taken me hours to fetch enough."
Midge smiled, went round and gave Isha a little hug. Then she said to the visitors "Welcome to our guest house. We'll show you round. Kitty, please?"
Kitty took Audrey's hand, Chloe took Natalie's as they started to show them. Kitty started to speak. "This is the lounge area, where guests are welcome to sit and relax. Tea and coffee always available, they just have to ask one of our girls. We all wear these dresses with our names on."
Natalie, smiling, "Except for Midge and Molly, which Isha sort of told us about." "Yes," said Kitty, "she does have something of a unique way of putting things."
They showed them round the floor, including the breakfast room, then the theatre. Kitty explained "We've only done odd things here, but the guests seem to like what we've done, our own take on a fashion show. We did get Isha to do a little talk once, perhaps we'll show you that.
"We would have liked to show you one of the guest rooms, but they're all taken, and it would be wrong …" Audrey interrupted her, "No, that's all right, we quite understand, and we saw some pictures Isabel had taken when she let Daniel read through her article."
Midge led the way through to the breakfast room, Kitty explained "This is where they have breakfast, unless they want it in their rooms. We also give them lunch and dinner in here on Mondays, all the other days we take them to George's. We want them to have a good dining experience." Samuel said "Yes, I've seen that from your accounts. And, talking of your accounts, I have to say, they are showing a good return, though it's only been a short time. But Kitty's business plan seems to be about right."
Midge, smiling, "We hope we continue to get the clientele to keep us busy."
They showed their four visitors round the grounds with the exception of the girls' play area. Whenever they saw guests who weren't otherwise occupied, Midge would ask them if everything was all right, all seemed very happy. And, of course, she always had a brief word with any of the girls who were there.
Back in the guest lounge area, Midge suggested they watch Isha's video. "Something of an experience." Kitty went to Isha to say they wanted to show their four visitors her little talk, and would that be all right? Isha answered "'Spose so, they are nice people. But not …" "No" from Kitty, "the same as we showed Isabel, nothing about before the convent."
As Kitty walked back to the others, she had a frown on her face. Midge asked "What's the matter? Doesn't she want …" "No, it's not that, she's fine with it. With all that's going on, I think Isha might need some sort of legal representation." Chloe immediately said "Bloomin' good idea", for once without a trace of sarcasm.
Midge and Molly both nodded, Midge asked "Daniel, we'd like you to be ready to help Isha should it become necessary, could we put you on some sort of retainer or something?" Daniel asked "Can you tell me what it's about?" "Not yet. Let's watch Isha's video, then maybe talk to her. In fact, Kitty, while we're watching it, could you have a word with her?"
In the theatre, Kitty started the video, then she went to talk to Isha. When the others came out of the theatre, their reactions were pretty much the same as others who had seen it. But when they saw Kitty with Isha on her lap, crying into Kitty's neck, any laughter changed to concern. Midge went to the two, Kitty said "She sort of agrees. I think she'll talk to Daniel about it, but none of the others. Can we do it now, get it over with?"
When Midge nodded, Kitty said to Isha "We'll take you into the office, have a little talk in private with him, only people there that you want. All right?" Isha nodded, "Just you four? And maybe Pete?"
Midge went to the visitors, "Daniel, could we take you into our office to talk to you, please? Just you?" Daniel with a glance at Audrey, "If that's what she wants, okay." Midge nodded, "I'll get one of our girls to get you tea or coffee, and someone to be on the reception desk."
A few minutes later, in the twins' office, Pete and Kitty were on a settee with Isha sat between them. Midge, Molly and Chloe were in the other settee, Daniel in an armchair.
Kitty started, she asked Isha, "Can we show Daniel the bits we didn't show the others?" Isha nodded, but said nothing, tears were flowing from her eyes. Midge went to her computer, Kitty told her what to do to prepare it, Midge turned its screen to face them and sat down next to Molly again. Kitty used her phone to start the original video, she stopped it, then said "This is the same as you saw before, but there were a couple of bits cut from it. I'll fast forward to show you those."
While Kitty was talking, Isha climbed onto Pete's lap, knelt there, buried her face in his chest, he put his arms round her.
Kitty found the right part in the video, then let it play:
"Maybe I should stop eating at the table, take their empty plates back into the kitchen, scrape what's left off of them, eat that.
It's what I had to do before I was put in the convent, that's if I wanted anything to eat at all, though I always got plenty to drink, they made sure of that. Well, I did raid next door's dustbin when I could. It's not easy to climb into a wheelie bin when you're my height and it keeps running away from you. When the neighbour found me in the dustbin I got taken out of it and put into the convent instead. Doc said that's probably why I'm so little, but she did say that although I am small, I am perfectly formed, so that's nice. In the convent, no one really wanted to eat, the food was so awful."
Kitty jumped the video.
"Very sad for them, their parents died, horrible for them. That's horrible for Midge and Molly and for their parents.
Wish mine had died. And they got Kitty and Chloe out as well, lucky them.
The twins got them out, not my parents. That's Kitty and Chloe got lucky."
Kitty stopped it, Daniel's face showed no emotion. Midge said "With Isha's permission, we had words with Doc. Isha, can we tell Daniel about what Doc told us? I can assure you, he is perfectly safe, and I think he has to understand your background so that if he is needed he knows what's going on."
Without lifting her face from Pete's chest, Isha nodded.
Midge said "Kitty, can you? We'll break down." Kitty said "Okay, but Chloe, you might have to take over." In the end it was between them that Kitty and Chloe told Daniel about the missing year of Isha's life, how she'd been treated, her months in hospital, and her previous lack of schooling. When they'd finished, even Daniel had tears coming from his eyes.
After he'd recovered a bit, Daniel asked "So, why now?" Midge said "Something Isha doesn't know yet. Pete, hold her tightly. We think Isha's parents are dead." Pete momentarily looked at the twins with a frown, didn't say anything, then turned his attention back to Isha. The silence was broken when Isha lifted her head and said "No, you can't know … how … don't believe it." She buried her head again.
Midge said "Daniel, we don't want to tell you why we think that, but if we are right, then we would expect Isha to be contacted by the authorities. We want her to have proper legal representation, I don't know, maybe to do with her identity, maybe any suspicion that she might have been involved in some way. You heard what she said about her wishes for her parents, though we know she had nothing to do with it. We will cover your fees."
After a few seconds, during which the only sound was that of an occasional sob from Isha, Daniel said "Of course. Send me an email asking me, that will make it legal. Don't tell me her real name yet, I can see she's scared stiff of people knowing. If these authorities that you speak of turn up, don't let them talk to Isha, ring me, I have to be there."
Midge immediately went to her computer, straightened the screen so she could use it, shortly followed by "Email sent. Right, I think I could do with a cup of tea, anyone else?" Isha lifted her head, "I should get back to reception, but I might not …" Midge stopped her, "No, Isha, just for today, Fern's there now, she can finish your shift, we'll put you back on tomorrow. Why don't you go with Pete, he can make you some tea in his apartment, away from everyone, he won't be needed until six‑thirty. We'll come to see that you're all right later." "Thank you" from Isha. Pete nodded to the others, picked Isha up in his arms, Kitty opened the door for him.
To Daniel, Midge said "She feels very secure with Pete, she'll be a bit better in a little while."
Back in the lounge area, they joined Audrey, Samuel and Natalie. Daniel said to them "Sorry it took so long, but it is very important. Audrey, we have a new client in Isha, I'll give you some background later." Audrey asked "Is she all right? We saw Pete carrying her to the stairs, she looked like a baby in his arms." Midge answered her, "No, she's not all right, but we are looking after her in the best way we can. Would you like some more tea? We could all do with some."
Half an hour later, the four visitors got up to leave. After the round of hugs, Midge said "Sorry things got a bit down, but …" Natalie interrupted, "No, we can see she needs help. Please, let us know how she does." Daniel's parting words were "Phone me or Audrey immediately if there are any developments."
After they'd left, Chloe said "We ought not to stay in here, we're all miserable, our guests shouldn't see that." Kitty asked "Could we go to Pete's apartment, please? I'm sure they won't mind."
When they got to his apartment, Midge knocked on the door. Hearing nothing, she opened the door, they walked in. There was no one in the living room, nor in the kitchen. The door into the bedroom was ajar, Kitty put her head round, Isha was in the bed. Pete said to Kitty "She's asleep. Took a while, though." Kitty smiled, "Not surprised. All right if we sit here for a bit?" "Please, by all means. Make yourselves a drink if you like."
The next day, Pete went to Midge and Molly, he said "Well, I suppose I did expect something to come out of what you asked me to do, and I think you were pushing the limits a bit. But I have no idea what you actually did, and I am glad of the result, so I can't complain."
The twins made no comment.
It was a week later when a man and a woman came into the building. They went to the reception desk, where Isha said "Hello, what can we do for you?" The man said "I think it's you we've come to see if that's your name on your dress."
Isha had just been brought some tea by Fern. Hearing what the man said, Fern ran to Midge and Molly's office, burst in and said "Two people have come for Isha." The twins were out in seconds, to find Isha crying, the woman had gone round to Isha, who was trying to push her away.
Midge immediately called out "Please, don't touch her." Molly was round to Isha, picked her up from her chair, just held her. Midge asked "What's this about?" The man answered, "It's a very private matter that concerns Isha here." Molly said to Isha "Don't say anything until Daniel gets here." Midge said to the visitors "I'm telephoning her solicitor. You are not to talk to her without him being present, and anyone else she wants. Please, follow me to our waiting room." Making sure the two were following, Midge got her phone and made the call as she was walking.
Meanwhile, Molly stayed with Isha. A very concerned Fern was still there, Molly asked her to sit at the reception desk, and told her to phone Midge as soon as Daniel arrived. Molly led Isha to the twin's office, where she sat with Isha at one side of the table. Molly asked Isha "Would you like anyone else here with you and Daniel?" Isha nodded, "You four and Pete, please."
Molly phoned Kitty ‑ Chloe was with her ‑ then Pete. All three came to the office, Molly stood up to let Kitty and Pete sit either side of Isha.
Minutes after Daniel arrived, all were sat at the office table, Molly and Midge at one end, Chloe and Daniel at the other, the two visitors on the side opposite Isha.
The visitors seemed a little take aback by what was happening. Daniel took the initiative, he introduced himself as solicitor for all of the girls here. The man introduced himself as a police inspector, they could call him Vincent, his colleague was Harriet from victim support.
Daniel put his phone on the table, he said "I usually record conversations such as these." He then introduced the others at the table, "The twins are Midge and Molly, they are generally in charge here, Pete is an employee, among other things he is in charge of security. Kitty and Chloe help run the guest house." Daniel then went on to say "All the staff here have had difficult pasts in one way or another, all are very protective of each other. If their reaction to your wanting to talk to Isha seems a little excessive, that is why.
"Now, how can we help?"
Before they could speak, Isha, in a very quiet voice, asked "Aren't we supposed to offer visitors a cup of tea or something?" Midge answered her, "Thank you Isha, we haven't forgotten, but maybe after we've found out what this is about."
"So," asked Daniel, "what is this about?"
Vincent started. "First of all, we are aware of Isha's change of name. She was put into the witness protection scheme when her parents were arrested. I presume, as her solicitor, you are aware of this?" Daniel nodded, "Yes, but I don't know her original name, nor do I want to so long as there is any risk to her."
"We've come to tell her that there is no longer that risk. Isha, I have some sad news for you, both of your parents have died."
Silence for a moment, then Isha said "I don't believe it." Kitty was about to say something, but Daniel raised his hand to stop her. Daniel asked Vincent "Can you give us some details?" Harriet asked "Isha, are you sure you want all these people to know about this?" To which Isha replied "All these people are my friends." As she said this, she took hold of Pete and Kitty's hands. "And Daniel is a nice person, he's been good to us all."
"All right" from Vincent. "Your parents died as the result of the actions of fellow prisoners." He stopped apparently waiting for any reaction, Isha just looked at him. Vincent asked "Do you understand what I've said?" Isha nodded, but said "I still don't believe it. I won't believe it until I see them both dead."
Midge said "I can tell you now, she won't believe it until she does." Daniel asked "Can she see them?" Harriet replied "It won't make for pleasant viewing, they are somewhat disfigured." Isha muttered "Hope it hurt." Then louder "I want to see them."
Vincent said "All right, we can arrange that, but you can't have your whole entourage with you." Daniel immediately said "Please don't use any language that might be considered provocative. Her 'entourage' is here because she is very frightened, these help her feel a bit more secure. I don't think any of us understand quite how frightened she is. Are you aware of the details of what she's suffered?"
"Just that she was badly treated."
Daniel nodded, "As I thought, in that case you have no idea. Isha, would you be all right with me and, say, Kitty? I think that would be a reasonable number?" ‑ this last to Vincent. Vincent replied "Yes, that will be fine. It will take a couple of days to organise it, we'll get them to the same morgue and let Isha know." Daniel shook his head, "No, please let me know, I don't want anyone contacting Isha directly, nor anyone else at this guest house for that matter. Here are my contact details." He handed business cards to Harriet and Vincent.
"All right" from Vincent. "Now, something that I am glad that Daniel is here for, we suspect an external criminal element. It seems the deaths came about by some outside influence, there's been evidence to suggest a message was sent into at least one of the prisons that might be considered an incitement. Since Isha would apparently benefit from their deaths, could she have been involved in some way?" Isha opened her mouth, Daniel immediately said "No, Isha. Vincent, you are right that Isha would benefit. But how could she possibly have got a message to a prison? Have you any evidence that would suggest that?"
"Investigations are under way."
Daniel said "Your language is a little vague, 'there's been evidence to suggest a message'. Could you expand on that?" Vincent looked a little embarrassed. "Sorry, but … look, could you turn off your recording? … Thank you. A piece of paper was found that could have been such a message. Unfortunately it's gone missing before it could be given to us, so we've only a guard's accounts of what was on it." "You are presumably investigating that loss?" "Yes, but we won't get anywhere. Prisoners and guards alike are not being very cooperative." Glancing at Daniel's phone, "Actually, they're being downright obstructive."
Daniel, suppressing a smile, nodded, "So you have no real evidence at all?" "Just the guard's sighting, and I'm pretty sure the paper will have been destroyed." Daniel: "In other words, you have no evidence of any connection to Isha, merely the somewhat tentative motivation?" There was no reply.
After a pause, Daniel asked "Is that all the official business?" Vincent nodded. Isha immediately asked "Can we all have a cup of tea now, please?" Midge asked the visitors "Would you like one?" A glance between them, Harriet said "Well, I would, Vincent?" "All right then, yes please."
Midge got up, went out of the office. She returned a minute later, "It's on its way."
While they were waiting, Vincent said "I'll let you know, before we came here, we went to the local nick, talked to a few people. All seemed to know you or at least know of you, all had good things to say. But they were a little reticent about you twins, Midge and Molly. They said you are very honest, but there's an air of mystery about you. Also some suggested you have some quite unusual abilities. Almost superpowers, reading between the lines. Any comments?"
Daniel was about to say something, but this time it was Midge raising her hand to stop him. Molly spoke, "We have some talents that are unusual but not unique. Not something we brag about." Daniel raised an eyebrow when he heard Molly say 'not unique', but he said nothing.
A minute later, Zoe came in pushing a trolly. On it were cups and saucers for all at the table, five teapots, five milk jugs, a sugar bowl, teaspoons, and tea plates, also a larger plate with some biscuits on it.
Midge thanked Zoe as she placed the items round the table, the one sugar bowl she put between the visitors. Kitty, as some sort of explanation, "We are geared up for couples, hence the small teapots."
The trolly unloaded, Zoe went to Isha, whispered in her ear, Isha said "All right, I think, thank you." The two kissed, then Zoe wheeled out the trolly.
Isha said to the visitors "You must try the biscuits, they're the best."
They spent the next twenty minutes talking about the guest house. Harriet asked about the staff, Midge answered, "The old convent school burnt down, this was set up as a temporary school. Our staff are all left over from that, oh, except for Pete and our resident doctor and nurse, we acquired them later." Daniel added "It was the twins, Kitty and Chloe who organised setting it up as a school, some financing from an inheritance, some as gifts from local tradespeople of time and many of the items of furniture and fittings that were needed."
When Vincent and Harriet go up to go, they shook hands with Daniel, Pete and the girls. Midge and Molly went with them to show them out. On the way, Harriet asked "How can Isha switch like that, from traumatised to pretty much normal? And how can she be so nice to us, we must be seen as some sort of threat." Midge thought for a moment, "I don't know. I can tell you she's as nervous as a kitten all the while, but she seems able to cope with it. As for being nice, in spite of what she's been through, she just is. And everyone here loves her."
After they'd shown Vincent and Harriet out, the twins went back to the office. There they found Isha was sitting on Pete's lap, but she seemed to be quite cheerful. Daniel asked Midge "You said your talents weren't unique. Are there others like you?" "We only know of one alive now, she helped Chloe and Kitty in Australia."
Daniel nodded, then "I've got to go. I'll let you know if I hear anything, and, once again, Isha mustn't talk to anyone about this without me being present. Nor any of the rest of you, for that matter, though Pete, legally I don't represent you." Pete replied "I would insist on at least one of these being with me, in which case they'd have to call you, if that's all right?" Daniel nodded, "That's good. All right then, I'll say my goodbyes."
As he got up, Isha slid off Pete's lap, went to Daniel, hugged him and said "Thank you." Daniel leant down and kissed her forehead, then made his way out of the office, Kitty went with him to the front door. She said "Isha's thankyou is from all of us." He smiled at her, "Something I've said before, just doing my job."
Two days later, Daniel phoned Midge, "Can I pick Isha up at quarter to two this afternoon? Appointment three o'clock at the morgue where they are now."
As they'd arranged before, Kitty went with Isha and Daniel, the girls were wearing their normal dresses. When they arrived, they found Vincent and Harriet there, also a couple of officials. They were led into a room, on one wall was a large window, curtains covered it. One of the officials explained that there were two bodies laid out in the room the window looked into, they had shrouds over them, just the faces were exposed. Then he asked "Are you ready?"
Isha was clinging to Kitty, she moved so that Kitty was between her and the window, she was visibly shaking. Daniel asked Isha "Are you all right?" Kitty replied for her, "She's still scared rigid of them. Let's get this over with."
The curtains were opened, Isha stayed hiding behind Kitty. Daniel went to her, lifted her up, carried her to the window. He whispered to her, "Be brave. They can't hurt you now." Opening her eyes, Isha peered round. After ten seconds she shouted out "YES!" She gave Daniel a full kiss on the mouth, wriggled down from him, went to Kitty and gave her a kiss and a hug. Then she pretty much danced round the room, running back to hug Kitty, tears of joy running down her cheeks. The only people who weren't surprised at Isha's reaction were Kitty and Daniel.
One of the officials asked "Is she really their daughter?" Vincent replied "Yes, she is. How she must have …" He stopped. Kitty finished for him, "Hated them."
Isha was asked to sign a document as an official identification. She did so, and printed her name as the document required. The official asked "Is that your real name? It's not theirs." Daniel replied for her, "She has a different name now." Then he asked Isha, "Do you want to go back to your original name or keep your new one?" To which Isha replied "I am Isha. And now I am a happy Isha. Their poor daughter never existed as far as I am concerned."
Back at the building, Isha ran in, started going round every girl she met, hugging, kissing, time and time again saying "I am a happy Isha." Midge and Molly came out of their office, they'd heard her. She ran to them, hugged them both, actually climbed up Molly, kissed her, leant over to kiss Midge, then almost shouted "They're dead, they're dead."
Midge said "Isha, that's good, but I think you are worrying some guests."
"Oh, sorry, didn't think. I'd better apologise to them." Midge smiled, "No, we'll do that. Go and change into your guest house dress, tell anyone on the top floor. Then, if you think you'll be all right, we'll put you back on reception."
Isha went to Daniel, who was just standing there with Kitty. "Thank you so much, best day of my life." Daniel, as always, "Just doing my job. Now, off with you." Isha grabbed Kitty's hand and dragged her to the stairs. Midge and Molly went to Daniel, both kissed him and thanked him. Smiling, he left them.
The next day was a day off for Isha, being off duty she was wearing a normal dress. During breakfast she was very quiet, not her usual bubbly self, but didn't seem unhappy. Midge and Molly asked Kitty to keep a watch on her, they weren't sure how she might react after her visit to the morgue the day before.
A little later in the morning, Isha wandered outside and walked down to the play area by Roy and Jane's cottage. She sat on the grass, her arms hugging her knees to her chest. Kitty had followed, but at a distance, she didn't want to upset Isha in any way.
After a while, several more girls came to the play area, including Xanthe and Zoe, the two who had been hurt in the earlier lake boathouse slipway accident. They went to Isha, chatted to her for a bit, Kitty could see Isha was smiling as they talked, but still not her usual self.
The girls left Isha, all of them went into the water and started swimming around, a lot of racing, attempted duckings with accompanied yells, screams (and quite often gurgles). They were all clearly enjoying themselves.
After a while, Kitty saw Isha get to her feet and walk hesitantly towards the water, stopping every few paces, once or twice taking a step backwards, all the time staring at the water in front of her. Eventually she got within a couple of feet of the water, she stopped, still staring at the water's edge, occasionally lifting her gaze to the playing girls.
Another minute, Kitty saw Isha take off her shoes, she seemed to shake her whole body, she put her hands over her eyes, and slid one of her feet forward a little way, then brought her other foot up to it. She repeated this, until her sliding foot reached the water's edge, her toes touched the water, she jerked it back.
She slid her foot forward again, her toes just in the water, this time she held it there, her whole body shuddered, she brought her other foot forward until it, too, had its toes in the water. All this while, her eyes were covered with her hands. She stayed like this for several seconds, then a little wave, probably created by the playing girls, rippled over Isha's feet. She jumped back, took her hands from her eyes, now she looked at the quite small disturbance on the water's surface.
She tentatively stepped forward, watching her feet going into the water, this time she managed another step so that the water came up to her ankles. She stopped there, just looking down.
One of the girls in the water called out to her, "Isha, coming in?" Isha looked up, shook her head, backed out of the water and started running away over the grass, where she more or less ran into Kitty and clung to her. Kitty wasn't sure what she should say to Isha, in the end she said "Isha, you took your shoes off." Isha looked down at her feet, "Oh, yes, I'd better put them back on."
Holds Kitty's hand, leads her past shoes to water's edge, "Would you step in with me?" Kitty removes shoes, they step in. Isha's looking down at feet, Kitty gesticulates to girls to take no notice of Isha. Isha slowly walks deeper until half way up shins, Isha looking down. Ripple causes Isha to turn and try to run out, skewed by grip on Kitty's and, trips and falls, Kitty goes down with her, has Isha's face out of water immediately.
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Introduction