Crossing the Boundaries- Chapter Nine (standard:drama, 0 words) [9/12] show all parts
Author: Siobhan	Added: Jun 03 2001	Views/Reads: 2806/5914	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Alyssa goes to camp for fun when a mysterious fog rolls into the camp. When it lifts, everyone twenty-six and older has vanished in the entire world. The remaining children are thrown into a panic but Alyssa must get to her sister.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

first trip.  Actually it happened at the old camp, I know that you were 
there but maybe not that year.  Don't mention this around Barbra for I 
am sure it still hurts but her older sister, Tonya, disappeared in a 
blizzard.  Some other campers also vanished and one died.  That is one 
of the reasons why they relocated.  I also had to kill my stalker.  
That is something you'll never recover from," Brenda looked as if she 
were about to cry.  Alyssa had no clue what to say.  Barbra had told 
her that Tonya had died but never how or where.  No wonder Barbra 
hadn't came up to camp in a long time.  At least, not until they had 
relocated. 

"Why do you look as if you are about to cry?  Is it because you killed
your stalker?" Alyssa wanted to know. 

"I lost my best friend in the whole wide world.  She was the camper that
died.   She sacrificed her life for the good of every camper that year. 
 She was awesome," Brenda looked into the distance, afraid to actually 
look at anything. 

"Oh," Alyssa was at a loss of words.  She knew that Brenda was talking
about Jack, this girl who was the only girl who would hang out with 
Brenda when everyone thought she was crazy.  She felt really bad for 
the tall brunette standing in front of her and the silence became 
awkward. 

"Well, I'm on my way back to the field. I'll be seeing you there,
right?" Brenda wanted to know. 

"Of course," Alyssa just wanted her to go.  She really liked Brenda but
she didn't know how to handle the emotional input and so she would 
rather avoid the whole thing.  Brenda continued on her way, as did 
Alyssa. 

She wanted so badly to tell Ben how she felt but that would be foolish
at best.  She wanted to believe that he liked her for he made an effort 
to speak with her and several times, she had caught him watching her 
but it could all be in her imagination.  She hated herself for being so 
shy and wished that she had Shelby's outgoing spirit or Melissa's 
mutual like thing with Matt.  She wished that Ben would come right out 
and say if he liked her or not but how could she expect that, when she 
couldn't even do it? 

She leaned against a tree to think when a familiar, mud covered boy
wandered down the trail. 

"Hi Alyssa," he smiled at her and waved.  Even though his facial
features were not recognizable, she knew his walk. 

"Hi Ben, a little muddy there," she joked and his smile broadened.
"Well, I could share the wealth and give you a big hug," he offered.  
Alyssa saw her chance and leapt for it.  It couldn't possibly hurt, at 
least not too much. 

"I wouldn't mind the hug part," she replied and saw his smile go into a
sly grin. 

"Who says that I wouldn't mind giving the hug?  Come here and I'll do
so," he walked towards her and she held her ground.  Even though they 
were kidding around, she sensed an undercurrent of seriousness.  He got 
right in front of her and still she did not move. 

"Save that hug until I'm cleaned up and hold me to my word," he
announced and took off towards his cabin. 

She was speechless for a moment then she yelled after him, "Don't worry!
 I will definitely hold you to your word!"  She was quite shocked.  
There she was, trying to figure out a way to tell him that she liked 
him when he had solved the problem for her.  How wonderful!  She 
hurried to the field to tell her friends but what she found was chaos.  
Non-muddy people were running in every direction with muddy people 
chasing them.  Alyssa decided that she was going to go back to her 
cabin, and she ran, praying that she would not be caught. 

Later on, at dinner, Alyssa was standing in the dinner line, right
behind Ben.  She swallowed her fears deep into the pit of her stomach 
and tapped his shoulder.  He turned around and his whole face lit up 
when he saw her. 

"Hi Alyssa, what's up?" he questioned but the twinkle in his eye said
that he knew exactly what she had came for. 

"I do believe that you owe me a hug now that you're cleaned up," she
responded and was astonished at her own courage. 

"You know what?  I think you're right," and he gave her a huge bear hug
and she returned it, "So was that enough to satisfy your cravings?" 

"For now but who can tell later on," she flirted and she saw him grin
slyly again.  This was too awesome for words, he surely liked her.  He 
was acting like it and she had known him for a long time so she knew 
how he acted when he liked a girl.  She hoped that she was lucky 
enough. 

"Hey Ben, look at all the different varieties of potatoes," Bryan
laughed and Ben joined in.  It was a joke that Alyssa did not get so 
she turned to talking to her friends. 

"What was that all about?" Shelby wanted to know later on.  She always
wanted to know everything and knew everything about everybody. 

"Oh, I don't know.  Just a bit of flirting, I guess," Alyssa replied
casually. 

"A bit?  You guess?  I want all the juicy details, spare nothing,"
Shelby prompted and Alyssa had a hard time not laughing but she wasn't 
going to spill her hopes. 

"I have no clue what you are talking about," was her response and she
hurried away before Shelby could say anything more. 

The next day, Wednesday, Alyssa woke up with a jump.  She was so excited
and hyper about something and then she remembered, Ben.  Her heart beat 
with excitement when she thought that she had actually got a hug from 
him. 

"Barbra, let's go walking," Alyssa suggested, "You could see your thin
white boy, Shawn."  Her main hope was to see Ben and perhaps, steal 
another hug from him. 

"Well, I really don't want to walk.  Let's go swing," Barbra offered. 
She was still asleep and not interested on really working hard. 

"Okay!"  The playground was new and better but not full of memories. 
The old one had one good swing and one baby swing.  Barbra would goof 
off and take the baby swing and Alyssa would take the good swing.  
Barbra would cry out about her butt being hurt by the swing then would 
take off to the tire swing and eventually move to walking but here it 
was different.  There were three good swings and three baby swings.  
The walking around was no longer an option because Barbra could swing 
now. 

They sat on the swings and began to swing silently.  Just then, Shawn,
Jeremy, Jeff, and Philip came wandering down the path. 

"Ooh baby, oh baby, he's hot," Barbra mumbled then yelled, "Looking good
Shawn." 

"Oh yeah, look it's my studly men," Alyssa teased the boys and they all
waved back.  Barbra just sighed with happiness and Alyssa shook her 
head as the boys left. 

"I could take him any day," Barbra smiled.  She watched him walk away
and let out a long sigh again. 

Ben, Bryan, and Kellin came walking down but Alyssa was talking to
Barbra about the boys.  She looked up to see Bryan elbow Ben and he 
looked up to see Alyssa.  A smile blossomed across his face and his 
cheeks darkened. 

"Hi Alyssa," he shouted and Alyssa smiled.  She liked him so much and
there he was, like an angel coming to brighten her day. 

"Hi Ben," she called back and his smile deepened even more.  Bryan and
Kellin were talking about something real extravagantly and kept looking 
at Alyssa and Ben over and over. 

"Well, see you later," Ben announced and waved.  She waved back and
watched him walk away. 

"Bryan is a hottie," Barbra drooled. 

"Actually, the whole lot of them are cute but I really like Ben.  I
mean, he's just, he's everything I could ever want.  I wish I could get 
him," Alyssa whispered in slight awe.  She had been friends with him 
forever but now she realized that he had almost every quality in a guy 
that she was looking for.  She really wanted him as her boyfriend. 

"I know, I know, but I really like Bryan but not as much as Shawn,"
Barbra giggled and the breakfast bell rang.  So, they went to 
breakfast. 

After breakfast, everyone had to go back to their cabins while the
counselors went to a meeting. 

Shelby, Barbra, Melissa, Sabrina, Kimberly, and Alyssa were all sitting
on the porch talking. 

"So are you going to tell me about Ben and you?" Shelby wanted to know. 
She was eager to find out more but Alyssa really didn't have anything 
to say. 

"I don't have anything to tell you and I am being honest.  It was just a
hug," Alyssa replied.  It was more than a hug to her.  It was a 
starting point and it had been just perfect. 

Suddenly Erin walked out onto the porch. 

"Guys, there's something weird behind our cabin.  Come inside and look
out back through a window," her voice was shaky and she looked very 
worried.  Barbra and Alyssa looked at each other and hopped off the 
railing.  All the girls ran in and looked out the window.  A dark 
brownish-gray cloud like substance was creeping down the side of the 
mountain very rapidly.  The other cabin that was above them was barely 
visible, in fact, the only thing that they could see was the chimney 
with smoke puffing out the top. 

"Someone tell all the girls in the cabin below us to get inside," Alyssa
instructed.  With those few words, chaos erupted inside the cabin.  
Girls went everywhere but only Alyssa remained glued to the window. 

It wasn't long before the substance had rolled around their cabin. 
Swirling cloud like stuff pushed against the windows and Alyssa stared 
at in shock.  A face formed in front of her and a hand pressed up 
against the window.  The face looked like her mother and she put her 
hand to the window, against the hand on the outside.  The face smiled 
at her and mouthed, "I love you!" then was gone, leaving only the brown 
fog. 

"I'm scared," Heather cried out.  She was watching the fog with fear on
her face and she was also visibly shaking. 

"Don't be," Shelby sat on her bunk and hugged her.  Alyssa wasn't
frightened but really sad.  Something said that was her mother saying 
good-bye and she was broken hearted.  She loved her mommy and didn't 
want her to be gone but she wouldn't panic until she knew for sure if 
her mother was okay or not. 

"How long is this fog going to stay?" Chelsea inquired an hour later
after the fog was still going thick and strong. 

"Who knows?" Melissa replied and looked very bored. 

"Isn't this fog staying a little too long?" Heather inquired, her face
still very pale and her hand squeezing Shelby's. 

"Actually fog can stay for several hours.  And it's a common thing.  We
are very high up in the mountains," Sarah responded.  Melissa nodded 
her head to her older sister's comment. 

"I'm so scared," Heather wailed. 

"It's just fog," Barbra shook her head.  They were all grating on each
other's nerves and all wanted out of the cabin. 

Another hour passed and still the fog swirled by the windows.  Alyssa
just watched as if it were some magical being.  She loved the way it 
moved, so graceful and elegant, almost like a ballerina. 

"Hey, I'm starting to see trees," Sabrina called out excitedly. 
Everyone rushed to the windows and pressed their faces against the 
moist panes. 

"I can too," Heather cried out with excitement.  Soon, the fog kind of
vanished but still hung out around the bases of the trees and other 
plants and cabins. 

"I've got to get out of here," Chelsea shouted and pushed outside.  
Everyone followed her and was stunned by the air outside.  The air was 
dense and humid but more frighteningly, very quiet.  No one laughed or 
spoke and no birds twittered out their songs.  They stood on the porch, 
staring at the silent forest with bewilderment. 

The girls in the cabin below them walked out. 

"Hey are you all, alright?" Jo Anna called up. 

"Yeah, we're fine," Shelby yelled back, "But this is really freaky." 

"I say we go to the Mess Hall to check in with our counselors," Alyssa
suggested.  The girls in her cabin all agreed and they began the trek 
to the eating place.   When they reached it a strange sight reached 
them.  Only the young counselors were there and they were panic 
stricken. 

"I'm out of here," Ryan exclaimed to Alyssa. 

"Why?" she grabbed his arm and her voice sounded frightened. 

"We were all in there talking and then the fog rolled in around us.  All
the older counselors just vanished.  Right before our eyes.  I'm not 
staying to see if that fog comes back," he yanked away and took off 
running. 

"Ryan, come back.  You can't leave us," Shelby cried after him but he
gave no notice to her frantic pleas. 

"What do we do now?" Barbra wanted to know. 

"I say we ring the bell and call everyone to the Memorial Hall.  I'll
describe our situation and I have an idea. We'll all decide what to do 
up there," Alyssa offered her plan. 

"Sounds good to me," Sabrina shrugged and immediately Chelsea ran around
to the bell and began to ring in with a loud clang. 

When the campers arrived, they only saw Alyssa standing up on the stage.
 She had noticed that one counselor had stayed and that was twenty-two 
year old Jenea and she looked very traumatized.  She was sitting up 
against the wall, staring off into space, and there were tears dripping 
down her cheeks. 

"Could everyone have a seat?  You're going to need one with what I have
to tell you," Alyssa instructed.  Everyone sat and listened to her, 
ears and eyes alert. 

"Okay, we have a slight problem on our hands.  No one panic please.  We
have to think about this logically.  All of our older counselors 
disappeared and the majority of the younger counselors ran off in fear. 
 Jenea stayed with us and I'd really appreciate it if someone could 
take care of her.  Now for the moment, I propose that we send someone 
into town to see if it is the same way up there.  Now do I have any 
volunteers?" she looked around but no one moved.  It was as if they 
were afraid to go and find out. 

Ben stood up and spoke, "How about you and I go check it out?  I really
don't want to go by myself."  He looked very scared and as if he didn't 
want to be saying what he was. 

"Alright, let's go now," she stepped down and everyone began to chatter
to each other. 

"What do you think happened?" Ben asked as they walked to his car.  No
one accompanied them or even said good-bye. 

"I don't know but I know that it was bad because Ryan was absolutely
terrified.  He said that they disappeared right before his eyes," she 
mumbled and sat in the passenger seat. 

He got in and seemed to be thinking, "You know what?  It seems so
trivial now but this morning I was trying to figure out, how could I 
ask you out.  Now, I'm wondering if there are any adults left in the 
world.  Kind of funny." 

She grinned, "Actually kind of sad, I was thinking the same thing." 
They laughed heartily and began the drive up the side of the mountain 
to town. 

They drove into town and there were children everywhere. 

A little girl stood by the road and screamed, "Where's my mommy and
daddy?"  Other kids, around Ben's and Alyssa's age were robbing the 
stores and running wild. 

A tall girl flagged them down and ran to their window, "Where are you
from?" 

"The camp below you guys," Ben replied and looked at the lawlessness
spewing out around them. 

"Is there anyone twenty-six or older down there?" she wanted to know. 

"No, that's why we came up here to check for adults," Alyssa answered. 

"Damn," the girl looked as if she were about to pass out and she backed
away from the car slowly.  They continued driving through the town and 
everywhere was the same.  Children hysterical and kids destroying 
everything. 

"Ben, I'm really scared now," she whispered and he held her hand out of
fear but something else too. 

"I am too," he mumbled. 

"At least we're not in a panic at camp like these kids are," she
responded. 

"That's because you were there to stop them," he looked at her with
admiration in his eyes. 

"Oh please, like I had anything to do with that," she chuckled. 

"Of course you did.  We were starting to freak out that nothing was
happening and then you kind of pulled us out and it really was you," he 
watched a girl run by with a television that still had the price tag 
attached. 

"Well, if you say so," she looked out the window too. 

"I do." 

They eventually turned around and went back to the camp, but the entire
trip was silent.  They parked the car and everyone rushed them. 

"Are there people down there?" 

"Did you see anyone?" 

"Are we the only ones left?" 

"Surely you saw some adults.  You had to!" 

"Look, go to Memorial Hall and we'll explain everything there.  Go," Ben
ordered and it was weird how everyone obeyed.  Ben clang the bell and 
then he slipped his hand into her hand. 

She looked at him softly then said, "I think we should ask them if they
want to stay or go home.  Perhaps, we can get people who can drive to 
take their cars and take people to their houses to check up on their 
families.  If they want to stay, they can make that decision then or 
they can pick up their siblings and bring them here, along with animals 
and possessions." 

"I think that is a good idea, and I'll do it," Ben gave her hand a
squeeze and she had the urge to hug him but she resisted.  Now was not 
the time.  She had to make sure that everyone was taken care of. 

They walked to Memorial Hall and when they got near they let go of each
other's hands.  They walked in and Alyssa walked up to the microphone. 

"First off, how many of you drove up here in your own cars?  If you did
please get up here.  Next issue, I want one person from each cabin to 
go up and search your counselor's belongings for keys to their cars.  
Okay, thanks.  Now, we went to town and found it be complete confusion. 
 There was no one there twenty-six or older.  They had all vanished.  
Now I have to assume, all adults have vanished and when you go home, 
you'll only find siblings.  Please, don't speak yet.  My thought is 
that we'll have all that can drive, take one person at a time to their 
home to see their families, get personal belongings, or just stay home 
forever.  On the other hand, you could get everything including family 
and pets and live up here.  Now, will all of you up here be willing to 
go along with my plan?" she looked over the group of about half the 
camp bunched up around her and they all nodded their heads vigorously. 

"Excellent!  All of you with baby siblings who need immediate attention,
please come forth."  About twenty people stood up and walked forward. 

"Drivers, I want each person here to be attended to.  Thank you so much.
 I assume the gas stations might be down so see if you can figure out 
how to start up the pumps."  Those people got up and left just as the 
key searchers walked in. 

"Did anyone not find their counselor's keys?  Okay, can you all drive? 
Awesome, I want you to join these front drivers.  I'm going to have you 
take one person to their house and either drop them off or pick up 
anyone and anything that they want and bring them back here.  Okay, 
next group, anyone with siblings who need taken care of."  About two 
thirds of who were left walked up and they were quickly on their way. 

"Next group, anyone with pets who need taken care of."  Most of the
remaining walked up and she saw that everyone was going to be taken 
care of and she might be able to get a ride with Ben. 

"Alright, last group, come on up."  It was soon just her and Ben left in
the hall. 

"Okay, can I take you to your house?" he inquired. 

"I'd highly appreciate it," she smiled gingerly.  She was afraid to go
home and find out the truth that her parents were gone though she knew 
that it was true.  She hoped that Faith, her younger sister, was okay.  
Faith would be okay for she was thirteen but she may have panicked and 
gone crazy or she might be having trouble taking care of all of their 
animals.  They had six dogs, six cats, and one lizard, it might have 
been too much for her. 

They were driving up the mountain to the gas station when Ben spoke,
"Kellin called home.  The news was just as I feared.  No one picked up 
and when he called their cell phones he got their once funny messages, 
"If we are not picking up then we are dead or in grave pain so please 
don't leave a message because the likely chances that we will ever be 
able to return it are nill."  I would be seriously upset except I 
expected it which helped the pain factor." 

"Oh God, Ben, I'm so sorry," she squeezed his hand and he squeezed it
back.  He was looking straight ahead and would not look at her.  She 
could see tears forming and she wanted to cry herself. 

"I don't know about my household because I'm afraid to call.  I don't
want to know but I already do and I just can't handle it right now.  I 
can't," she looked out the window and gnawed on her lower lip. 

"I understand what you mean," he replied, "Look at the line at the gas
station.  They're all cars from camp, and they're filling the tanks.  
Excellent!" 

They pulled in and sat in silence.  They watched the other campers call
home and come back from the pay phone in tears.  No one was paying for 
the gas, it was just a continual flow and Alyssa saw that it was 
because there was a teenage cashier in there ensuring that it was doing 
so.   People were wisely filling up gas cans and loading them in their 
trunks.  No adults were seen anywhere and Alyssa wanted to cry. 

"It looks like it is right before the end of the millenium again,"
Alyssa joked though her voice was only serious.  Ben didn't reply but 
gave her hand a gentle squeeze.  He was the most wonderful man that she 
had ever met and she knew right then, that she loved him with all her 
heart and always would, no matter what happened. 

It was finally their turn to get gas and he grabbed a gas can out of his
trunk and filled it up. He then took care of the car and they were on 
their way down the side of the mountain. Towards a city that would be 
more ravaged then even this little town up in the mountains, and she 
was dreading it. 

He followed her instructions and he carefully avoided the many wrecks
that were littering the streets.  He parked in front of her house and 
turned to talk to her. 

"Are you staying or are you coming with me to my house and back up?" he
wanted to know. 

"I'm going to pack everything I can into that suburban and trailer and
drive it up to the mountains.  I don't want to be away from you but I 
figure that I can take more and my animals," she replied. 

"I have one suggestion, go to any stores that you can and get all the
clothes, food, supplies that you can because no one else will be able 
to provide them for you," he instructed. 

"Thanks, I'm going to do that," she hugged him and was about to get out.


"One more thing," she turned to him and he kissed her, "When you get
back, I want us to be official.  I know this is a bad time but I love 
you and I would actually like you to marry me if it's ever possible, I 
mean, don't answer me now.  If it's a no or you don't know, I'd rather 
hear it later." 

"I love you too and it will be possible.  I promise that I will gladly
be your wife and right  now is the perfect time because it adds a 
bright spot," she kissed him and got out of the car.  He saw Faith come 
running out and hug her sister, now his fiancée, and she turned to wave 
to him.  He waved and left to go to his own house. 

"Oh Alyssa, when you didn't call, I imagined the worse.  I was thinking,
car accident like all of the ones around here and I was terrified.  Why 
didn't you call?" Faith asked. 

"I didn't want to find out if mom and dad were gone.  I was afraid,"
Alyssa replied and looked at her younger sister.  Faith looked sadly 
away and Alyssa knew it was true. 

"When did it happen for you guys?" she inquired. 

"We looked outside and saw fog starting to come so we brought the dogs
in. We were watching it and it surrounded the house.  The moment that 
was complete, mom vanished instantly.  I screamed for dad but there was 
no reply.  I went to his bed where he was sleeping, and he was gone.  
The spot was even still warm," Faith began to cry which started Alyssa 
crying and they hugged tightly.  When they pulled away, they were 
sniffling and red faced. 

"That boy, Ben, who drove me home.  We're engaged," Alyssa decided to
bring up some good news. 

"What?  Mom and dad left me so now you are too?  How could you do that?"
Faith was hurt and she recoiled from Alyssa. 

"Woah, when did I say I was leaving you?  We're packing everything we
can into the trailer and suburban, including our animals, and going 
back up to camp to live, and so is Ben.  I'll never leave you, so quit 
acting like a child," Alyssa explained. 

"Oh, I'm sorry but you scared me.  I haven't really been thinking
rationally lately.  Can you blame me?" 

"Of course not, so let's begin.  Perhaps, we can be back at camp
tomorrow evening," Alyssa hoped a loud. 

"I hope so," and they went inside their childhood home which they would
be leaving forever.  Alyssa packed all of her clothes into the trailer 
along with Faith's and all of their shoes, not to mention personal 
items.  She picked clothing of her mother's which she knew could fit 
her and put them in too.  She threw in books and other treasured 
objects, along with many of her mother's treasured glass.  She picked 
out some of her father's tools which she knew would be useful and threw 
them in.  She also grabbed some of her father's treasured pictures.  
She tossed in sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, and jackets.  She threw 
in every candle, flashlight, and battery that she could find.   She 
also grabbed the sewing machine because she thought that it might come 
in use. 

She grabbed all of their canned food and threw it in.  She also filled
the cooler with water and lizard food.  She then grabbed dog and cat 
food and threw it in the trailer.  Last of all, she piled gas cans in 
the trailer so that she could fill them. 

"Alright, tomorrow, we're going to load the cage full of all our cats
into the back, the very back of the suburban.  We'll grab Godzilla and 
put him in the little cat cage then put him up at our feet. We'll load 
the dogs in the row behind us and the rest of the room we'll fill with 
everything we get from the stores along with the remaining room in the 
trailer.  We'll then go up to our new home," Alyssa explained. 

"This is so sad," Faith sobbed and Alyssa had to agree. 

Suddenly the phone rang and Alyssa jumped for it, "Hello?" 

"Hi, is Alyssa available?" a familiar masculine voice inquired. 

"Oh Ben, it's me.  How are you doing?" she wanted to know and was so
grateful to hear his voice. 

"Well, my house is incredibly lonely without my family here," he
replied. 

"Where's Kellin?" she asked. 

"Oh, well he was a driver so he'll be stopping here last.  What about
you?  Are you okay?" he sounded so concerned. 

"Yep, Faith and I are all packed up and we'll load the animals up
tomorrow and then we'll go to all the stores that we can, and then 
we'll be going up to meet you.  We probably won't be there until late 
evening, possibly even morning," she responded. 

"Then I will see you my love.  Does Faith know yet?" 

"Yeah, I told her.  I love you but I think I need to get as much sleep
as I can now so that I can drive late into the night tomorrow." 

"I don't want you to that with the trailer." 

"Trust me, my daddy taught me everything I could need to know.  I really
have to go.  I love you." 

"I love you too and be careful." 

"I will, bye" and she blew kisses into the phone. 

"Farewell," and he blew kisses back.  She hung up the phone and wished
that he were here with her.  She missed him desperately and even though 
Faith was here, she still felt alone. She trudged off and cuddled on 
her now bare mattress with Faith underneath the one remaining blanket 
in the house.  She was so exhausted that she fell asleep right away and 
her dreams were sweet memories of her parents and everything that they 
had done.  Unknown to her, a tear slipped down her cheek like a tiny 
jewel and fell unnoticed onto the mattress and left a small and 
permanent ringlet.   It would be a reminder to whoever came to the 
house, that pain was a part of everyone's lives, even of the happiest 
people. 


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