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Legend of the Maņana, Chapter 13 |
| Written by Jonathan | |
| Saturday, 09 August 2008 | |
"Bloody hell! Get down!" Chives shouted as he shoved the group around the corner of a fire lit bright white marble hallway with columns at each edge of walling. Musket fire rained down the hall and out the doorway they had just used to sneak into the mansion. The group squeezed into a small coatroom as the gunfire shattered edges of the marble column that Chives hid behind. Chives traded fire cautiously as on the other end of the hall were several heavily armed men behind overturned tables and furniture. The gunfire muffled Ayafre's screams as she was quite shocked at the whole predicament. "They have bloody barricades set up! They knew we were coming! Don't let those giant freaks out of yer sight!" Chives roared over the gunfire as Revloc started to fire around the corner with him. "Look this wasn't us! And I'll walk out of here right now if it makes you feel better scotty!" Navlac shouted back. "We're not blaming you it's alright! Is there any other ways into the mansion?" Scarlet asked. "Not if you count the front door! We've only been here a few times; they don't trust us that much!" Nivlac answered. "Its fine we trust you two. It seems we underestimated the fact the Jortunde could of found us first," Yasac explained. The gunfire slowed down all the sudden. "They're reloading, if there isn't an exit that way, get on the other side of the hall!" Revloc yelled as he motioned to an identical coatroom across the hall. Without a second thought Yasac leapt across the hall and tumbled into the small coat room. Scarlet rolled right after him. Scarlet leaned around the corner column musket at the ready. The enemies began to return fire in full force and Scarlet took a shot. She hit one man in the shoulder and ducked back behind the column. "Anything Yasac?" Sally shouted from across the hall. "No nothing! It's just like the one over there! Except almost no coats." Yasac responded with gritted teeth. Sally growled much like her brother as she exchanged places with Revloc who was reloading. "We have to get out of here then!" Ayafre exclaimed. "We won't get back in if we do," Navlac said as he watched his brother slid across the hall firing his musket once down the hall as he slid to safety on the other side. "We'll get him later then! It's better than dying!" Jane shouted. Scarlet bit her lip. "We won't get another chance at him Captain!" Revloc stated as he locked his triggers in place. A musket ball suddenly clipped Scarlet in the arm, she screamed aloud in pain. Navlac pushed her forcefully into the coat room as he took her place. "Geez Navlac don't throw her!" Nivlac scolded. "I didn't mean to do it that hard!" Navlac shouted back as he tossed Scarlet's musket across the hall to Nivlac. "I'm alright!" Scarlet screamed as Yasac set her up against the wall and began to examine the wound. "Ayafre! Toss me your coat!" Yasac yelled. Ayafre franticly struggled in the small space to take of the coat without hitting anyone nearby. "If I may...I have a better way..." Nivlac suggested as he ducked back from his position behind the column. "How?" Ayafre inquired. "Well...it's a bit like my brother's method," Nivlac slowly admitted. Ayafre's eyes grew wide understanding. She bit her lip and looked over at Scarlet. "Alright! Do it!" Ayafre screamed as she curled into a ball and closed her eyes tight. Nivlac easily picked Ayafre up and tossed her across the hall. Yasac haphazardly caught Ayafre from where he was crouched and fell backwards. He wasted no time getting back up and helped Ayafre remove the coat full of medical supplies to help treat Scarlet. They got it off and Ayafre started immediately on Scarlet. "Yasac hand me your pistol mine isn't loaded yet, I can shoot with my free hand," Scarlet said as she winced at Ayafre's treatments. Yasac paused and looked at her as if he suddenly forgot the fight. "What...pistol," Yasac said slowly. "Your pistol I know you have one! Give it here!" Scarlet ordered. Yasac looked down and Scarlet raised her eyebrow hardly believing that he was refusing to give her his pistol. "Ahh! Bloody damn em to hell!" Chives roared as blood shot from his shoulder as a musket shot struck him. "Get him out of there!" Jane screamed. "Lemme alone I'm fine! Scarlet we can't stay here anymore!" Chives yelled. Yasac suddenly burst to his feet and went to the coat room wall. "Yasac! What the hell are you doing!" Ayafre exclaimed. Yasac lifted his hand to her as he felt along what was now a wooden wall. "Scarlet we have to go!" Sally shouted as she pulled out one of her explosives. Yasac unsheathed his katana and sliced once into the wall of the coat room. The katana left a defiant diagonal mark but with no depth. Yasac leapt up and with a shout left another similar diagonal mark which crossed the other, making an X. Yasac flipped his blade once and then once more, and suddenly lunged forward and stabbed straight into the very center of where the two marks met. The katana stabbed through the wall all the way to the hilt and Yasac then rammed his body into the wall trying to get the whole thing to budge. "Yasac! Use this!" Sally cried as she raised her bomb to throw to Yasac. "No! No wait! It'll kill us all! Navlac, err no Nivlac...the whirlwind! Some muscle over here if you please!" Yasac exclaimed as he removed his katana from the wall. "What?" Nivlac cried not understanding what Yasac was trying to ask him to do. "Exit! Stage right!" Yasac yelled as he motioned to the maimed wall with his thumb and leaned backwards. Nivlac wasn't exactly sure what Yasac wanted but he looked down to Scarlet to see if she approved. Scarlet looked once at Yasac who was moving Ayafre and herself tightly to the wall. Scarlet gave Nivlac a nod and the whirlwind nodded back. "Don't break your hip little brother!" Navlac teased. Nivlac roared and charged across the hallway. Nivlac leapt sideways at the wall ramming his shoulder into the wall. Nivlac burst completely through the wall. Much to his surprise Nivlac flew into a hot pool area filled with an entire party of most nude men and women. Nivlac tumbled into the pool completely submerging himself while Yasac nearly tripped over himself in utter surprise as he entered the pool area. Nivlac burst up from the pool dripping with water and looked up at Yasac just as surprised as he was. "Yasac! Is it safe?" Sally asked from across the hall. "Uh...well..." Yasac looked around trying to look beyond all the surprised naked masses who were now panicked and running about. He spotted a doorway and turned back to Sally. "Yeah, come on...just watch your step...and no more then that!" Ayafre and Scarlet tumbled into the room almost instantly red in the face. Yasac, who had just gotten over his surprise and embarrassment went back to the hole and directed the rest of the crew in. "Yasac! Keep going! I'll stay here and hold em off! Chives roared "That's crazy I'm not leaving you!" Jane screamed. Yasac looked once back into the pool room. "Revloc you stay and help em as well, Navlac, Sally come on! "Well...ok you know they are going to leave this hall for you guys instead right?" "Oh yes! That's an order Trigger trust me," Yasac yelled back. Revloc gave a confused face but nodded. Ayafre went back into the coat room to grab her coat. She saw Jane as Chives' side firing her pistol. "Jane! Be careful!" Ayafre shouted as she tossed the coat across the hall to the three making their stand there. Jane smiled lovingly at Ayafre as she pulled the coat all the way across. "Go!" Jane cried.
The bathers had almost completely cleared the pool now as Yasac, Scarlet, Ayafre, Sally and the giant brothers reached the doorway on the other side of the pool. The brothers burst through the doorway muskets at the ready. "It's clear let's move, and fast!" Navlac shouted as he and his brother made their way down another similarly decorated hall. "Are you sure they will be alright back there Yasac?" Ayafre asked concerned. "I have no doubt, we're flanking them at the moment, or so I hope. Which will force our enemies backwards, allowing Jane, Revloc and Chives to move forward," Yasac explained as they ran through the halls. "Giants any idea where we might end up next?" Ayafre inquired. "Well these halls all spiral around a large ballroom, that's where it would be safest, so that's where Jortunde will be," Nivlac explained. "And hopefully not end up facing down hordes of nudes again?" Yasac stated. "Oh I dunno Yasac, I'll take dozens of bathers to hostile musketeers any day," Sally said with a chuckle. "I concur!" Ayafre squealed recalling the dastardly images she unfortunately won't soon forget. "Somehow...I'll take the hostiles thank you very much," Yasac concluded.
"Jane! Stay back!" Chives roared. "Just let me see your arm!" Jane cried, "I can fight too!" "Aww bloody hell! Trigger keep em busy for a second!" Chives shouted to Revloc across the hall, as he ducked back behind the pillar and took Jane by the side of the head. He pulled her head close and spoke into her ear. "Just stay back...I'll take fifty shots before I fall and let that Trigger git be the one to keep you safe here. Ya understand! Fire when I fire, I'll be fine," "Chives...I don't want to lose you," Jane shuddered. "Fifty shots Janie, fifty shots, then you can play doctor all you want," Chives said with a devilish grin. "Hey! They are backing off!" Revloc yelled. Chives burst back around the pillar to see the musket men abandoning the barricade and running away. "Alright...what does that mean?" Jane asked as she kept her pistol trained down the hall. "The other group's doing I suspect, no time to waste if we want to help Scarlet and the others, we have to chase these buggers down!" Revloc explained. "Right!" Chives said in agreement. "Let's go!" Jane ordered as she put on Ayafre's coat. The three started off down the hall weapons at the ready. They hoped the barricade and kept on guard as the came to a fork. "Right or left?" Revloc inquired. "Right!" Jane said. "How ya know?" Chives asked. "Just a guess...we can go left if you want..." Jane said sheepishly to Chives. "We're wasting time, right it is," Chives growled. The rushed down the right hall, spotting the same white marbles and pillars on each corner. Revloc took the lead and ran around another corner only to face another barricade with a few men holding it. Musket balls shot down the hall at Revloc as he gracelessly dived around the other corner. Chives was quick to fire his musket in retaliation, hitting one of the musket men in the side of the head. Jane leaned out from behind the pillar and fired just after Chives striking a second man. A third musket man suddenly appeared as Jane looked back at Revloc without returning to cover. Chives franticly dropped his musket and pulled out his pistol. He fired as soon as he whipped it out hitting the enemy in the chest. Chives was breathing hard as he watched the man fall backwards. Jane looked up at him with a worried look. Chives shook his head and picked up his musket. He helped Jane up without a word and the three made their way down the hall. They came to a left turn and beheld and large wooden door. "Where ya think this leads?" Revloc asked. "Hmm, to something good I'll suspect aye," Chives stated. Jane carefully walked up to the door. "Oi! Hold on Janie!" Chives shouted as he sprinted up ahead of her. "Don't be walking into a big door like that! Here lemme take a peak." Chives threw his musket over his shoulder and placed his hands on the door as Jane smiled. Chives carefully pressed on the door trying to open it just a crack. The door refused to budge. Chives pressed a little harder and still nothing. Chives then began to push the door with all his might several times, his angry grunting getting louder each time. He then noticed Jane next to him kneeling down and fumbling with the rather large lock on the door. Revloc chuckled at Chives' face, as Chives realized it was locked. Chives growled at Revloc and took several forceful stomps at him. "I appreciate the gesture Chives but, this door is more of my specialty," Jane said sweetly. A large pop was heard and Jane removed a mangled lock pick. "Done...now you can sneak or charge in... or whatever you choose," Jane stated. "Enough of this honkey!" Chives said angrily. Chives kicked open the door revealing a large room with a grand mosaic floor black marble walls. They appeared on a balcony that traced above the ball room. Bronze railings lined the long balcony that to their right, bent down to follow a magnificent stairway covered in tiled marble. There were several musket men scrambling to barricade a door similar to the one the trio just entered. The three got down and crawled over to the railing. "What do we do now?" Jane asked. "Hey see that ramp down across the room? I wonder if we can get over there," Revloc stated. Chives and Jane spied through the railings down into the ball room to see the ramp covered in black and white marble tile and lead to a darkened hall. "How we goona get over there laddie eh?" Chives mocked. Revloc tightened his lips unsure of an answer. "What if we got over to the balcony on the other side and hopped down when no one is looking," Jane suggested. Chives and Revloc exchanged glances. Chives looked back at Jane and quickly agreed. "Sounds like our best bet, which way? Left we are going right in front of them and right are those bright stairs," Revloc stated. "You go left we'll go right aye?" Chives said. "Right it is then," Revloc said with a sigh. They snuck over to the top of the stairs and watched as the men skittered around trying to keep the door impenetrable. "Think the rest of em are behind that door?" Revloc asked. "I'd be surprised if they weren't, this is a crime syndicate leader's home," Chives stated. They got to the bottom of the stairs where the railing stopped. They watched the enemies to figure when best to run across. "Alright Jane, as soon as yer across hit the deck," Chives ordered. Jane nodded and got ready. But just before she ran across a loud scraping sound was heard all around the room. Everyone in the room looked over at a large square mosaic piece moving sideways. Most of the soldiers ran over to the darkened hole where the piece used to be. They trained their muskets on the hole and made a circle around it. "Uh oh, that better not be them," Jane said worriedly. Suddenly, out of the black hole sprang a large metal sphere that landed on the ballroom floor amidst the musket men. The men looked at it confused. "Oh bloody hell," Chives whispered as he pushed Jane down. The sphere exploded in a large bright ball of flame. All those around it were covered in fire that seemed to stick to them. The screams and shouts of the underground musket men were interrupted when the barricaded door exploded as well, destroying the door and setting most of the barricades on fire. Nivlac burst through the blaze and rammed through the rest of the door blockings. Right behind them was Navlac and the rest of the crew charging through the wrecked doorway firing their weapons. The musket men retreated backwards as Scarlet and the rest of her group took up positions behind the pillars supporting the balcony. Yasac and Ayafre could be seen slicing through enemies together. "Oi for Scarlet!" Chives roared as he got up and fired at the musket men from behind them on the stairway. Scarlet's group cheered as Chives, Jane and Revloc mowed down the retreating enemies from behind. "Yasac!" Ayafre screamed. Yasac turned around and sliced upwards with his two sabers, cleaving one man's bayoneted musket in two. Ayafre leapt past Yasac and spun her tonfas. She darted into another enemy, mangling his musket while knocking him down. The remaining enemies retreated off down the ramped hallway. "Aye! Run ya bloody wankers!" Chives roared as he descended the stairs with Jane and Revloc. "Everyone alright?" Ayafre cried. "Looks like it, aye?" Sally said. "I think I singed a lot of my hair running through that blaze but I'll be just dandy," Nivlac said. "Good to see you three again," Scarlet said to the three on the stairs. "Let's not celebrate yet, I think..." Yasac started but stopped when he saw a group coming up the ramped stairway. "Good evening intruders," A voice boomed from the ramp. "Get back, back to those pillars," Yasac ordered. "Wait, I recognize that voice," Scarlet said. "Yes, captain you had better," said Jortunde as he stepped out of the shadows wheeling a cannon base carrying an exorbant amount of small cannon barrels on it. He was escorted by a pair of body guards who carried what appeared to be smaller handheld versions of the frightening cannon Jortunde had. "Good God! What the hell is that!" Jane shouted. "This is a Ribauldequin better known as an organ or volley gun. A cannon with thirty three small barrels, originally conceived by Leonardo Da Vinci. A weapon that I assure will bring demise very quickly. But we have more important matters to discuss than the methods of your execution," Jortunde stated. "I disagree! Why did you betray us! Give me a bloody straight answer this time!" Scarlet yelled. "Ahh is that why you all barged into my own home like this! Wretched pirates I shouldn't even entertain you with answers. But alas, yes I did go back on my word and even now I do not regret it. I would rather have a lowlife crew of washed up drop outs then the enemies you all have made," Jortunde explained. "What! What are you talking about," Scarlet cried. "You didn't even see it did you! This was not what I wanted and I did what I could! Did you really think you could have escaped from Rome unarmed while being chased by the whole of the Underground! Rome is our main base of operations! No you all just happened to have an easily escapable execution and over half of our men in the city just happened to not be around at that time! No! I kept you all alive and this is how I am repaid!" Jortunde roared. "You...kept us alive? Then our weapons on the ship, was you too?" Ayafre said astonished. "Yes girl I orchestrated the whole thing. You all were supposed to leave and never come back to the Mediterranean again in fear of the underground. But you fools marched right into my home! "Jortunde, I sorry how could we have known," Scarlet said apologetically. "Pah! So ignorant and outright arrogant. Where did you get the gall that your little pirate group could have escaped from us. You shouldn't have so much faith in your tiny crew isn't that right Yasac! You know what was the cause of this!" All eyes were on Yasac who looked around surprised. "What! I don't know what he is talking about," Yasac said. "Heh lies, that's all you are isn't it Yasac. A different person to each being you encounter," "Jortunde I want to make it up to you, but how can I make this right if I don't know what's going on," Scarlet pleaded. "Heh, it doesn't matter anymore, now that you're here I'll have to kill you all myself for real." "Jortunde just wait! Sally cried. "Get back! Get down!" Navlac roared as he pulled Scarlet backwards. "Go to hell!" Jortunde screamed as he and his escort rained showers of volley on the crew. The crew dove back behind the pillars, as gunfire filled the whole room. Navlac Chives and Revloc were forced up to the balcony as the two escorts chased them up the stairs, with their deadly weapons firing. While Jortunde kept the crew behind the pillars at bay. Nivlac got nicked several times before he made it behind a pillar. "Whirlwind! Will you be alright?" Ayafre cried as she and him hid behind the same pillar. "Yes, as soon as those guns stop, but find me a musket I'm not going to be moving much more," Nivlac stated. "Just stay behind here, please," Ayafre said with concern. "Yasac! Do something!" Ayafre screamed. "Guns aren't really my thing!" Yasac yelled from the pillar over. "Yasac! You promised this would end well, I don't want guns I want you to fix this!" Ayafre screamed in hysteria. Yasac took on a very serious face seeing Ayafre's fear. "Sally! You have bombs?" Yasac shouted. "Unfortunately I have only one left and it's a long fuse sticky bomb. It would be stupid to throw it at em especially from way back here," Sally explained. "Could Nivlac throw it?" Scarlet asked. "I could throw it, but with this arm all beaten up, it won't hit its target for sure," Nivlac said. Yasac paused as another wave of gunfire smothered the area. The pillar Yasac was hiding behind started to crack under the firepower. "No time! Sally! Nivlac is going to throw you at Jortunde. You have to drop the bomb on the cannon!" "Yasac! That's insane; she would be killed by the gunfire and blown up by the bomb!" Scarlet shouted.
"No, Nivlac is going to throw her past Jortunde and down that ramp when Jortunde retreats down the ramp Sally will get him. I'll give Nivlac the time to run up and throw her," Yasac explained. Another volley hit and the Yasac's pillar was about to collapse. "Yasac! What are you going to do!" Ayafre screamed completely panicked now. "Do it Nivlac!" Yasac roared. Yasac suddenly burst out from behind the pillar and to everyone's horror drew Jortunde's fire. "This is your entire fault! Cursed Yasac samurai die!" Jortunde screamed as he pointed the cannon at Yasac and fired. Yasac sprinted forward forcing Jortunde to turn the cannon as it fired. "Yasac!" Ayafre screamed hysterically. Nivlac tossed Sally across the room. Jortunde turned at Nivlac to see Sally flying towards him. Sally dropped her payload which stuck to the organ gun. She gracefully landed and rolled down the ramp behind the gun. Jortunde gasped as he realized the bomb was stuck firmly to the gun despite his best efforts to remove it. The bomb hissed away but Jortunde didn't move and inch. Yasac stopped his sprint in surprise. "Jortunde!" Yasac yelled. "Well played Yasac, but I will not fall into a more painful death at the hands of the Yakuza," Jortunde said to Yasac. Yasac's eyes widened and he raced towards Jortunde. Just as the fuse ran out Jortunde leapt upon his organ gun. "No!" Ayafre screamed as she hid her teary face in her palms. The bomb exploded shooting Yasac backwards and leaving the area around the organ gun a fiery ruin. Sally ran up the ramp astonished at Jortunde's now disfigured burnt body. Navlac Chives and Revloc defeated the two escorts and rushed back down to the ballroom. Scarlet got up from behind her pillar and took a few steps toward Jortunde's body. She let out a deep sigh. She looked her at Yasac who had not gotten up from the explosion. "Yasac!" Scarlet yelled unsure of his condition. "Yeah, don't worry about me." Yasac said clearly as he lay on his back in a dazed state. "Jane, take Ayafre back to the ship. As for the rest of you, we're going to search this mansion until we find the answers we want," Scarlet ordered. Jane started to pick Ayafre up from her seat on the floor. Ayafre suddenly growled and rolled away in anger. "Yasac! How dare you! You just lay there while Jortunde burns! You promised this wouldn't happen! You bastard! You promised!" Ayafre screamed in a teary tantrum. Yasac heaved a sigh and closed his eyes as Ayafre fell backwards feinting into Jane's arms.
Ayafre awoke in her cabin on the Mañana. She looked around wondering if it was all a dream. The room was warm and a bright ray of sunlight brightened the otherwise dark cabin. Ayafre rolled out of her hammock and put her moccasins on. She looked down to see her whole outfit dirty, covered in gunpowder and dust. "I guess a simple nightmare is too much to ask for," Ayafre grumbled to herself. "I can't even have clean clothes either!" Ayafre sighed trying not to think about the event. She walked over to Jane's hammock and bent down to fumble with Jane's wardrobe bag under the hammock. She found a pair of Jane's white Arabian pants and changed into them. She combed debris out of her hair and tied it back. Ayafre left her cabin and walked up to the main deck. She winced at the bright sun and spotted Navlac and a bandaged Nivlac standing before Scarlet. Ayafre took a few steps forward and saw the rest of the crew preparing the ship to leave. "Are you absolutely sure you don't want to? You have no idea how much we could use you two," Scarlet pleaded. "It's been fun but we have a home and family here," Nivlac said cheerfully. "You can't really pay us that well either," Navlac said with a smirk. "You got us there, but if you ever want to have some more fun, or...just need our help again," Scarlet hinted. "We get it, now goodbye for real this time," Navlac said with a chuckle. "Oh alright, ta ta," Scarlet said with a sigh. The two giants lumbered off the ship and back into town. "They wouldn't join?" Ayafre said to Scarlet. "Oh good to see you awake, and no." Scarlet stated. "Ahh, I figured they would have joined, I guess I was wrong," Ayafre said quietly. "Aye, but that's past us, we have another lead to follow. While you were asleep we found a letter that Jortunde received instructing him to leave immediately and sail to Northwest Corsica. It must have been the reason he was leaving so soon," Scarlet explained. "Oh, well if you have time, I need to talk to you about..." Ayafre started. "Honestly Ayafre I don't have time right now, we have to get moving," Scarlet confessed. "Oi Quick Trigger Revloc careful with that sail!" "What if I don't want to go anywhere else...?" Ayafre whispered to herself. "Aren't those my pants?" Jane accused playfully as he snuck up behind Ayafre. "Mmm, yes. You didn't really take care of me when you brought me back. Fresh clothes and a bath would have been nice," Ayafre said. "Sorry but I'm not habit of undressing my friends in their sleep Ayafre," Jane teased. "Oh alright..." Ayafre said with a sigh. "Last night still bother you?" Jane asked. "I'm trying not to think about it, just keep Yasac away from me," "Alrighty, but you're ok?" "I...I think it's time we left the Mañana," Ayafre said slowly. Jane gasped. "Ayafre! What about our friends here...Scarlet, uh Sally," Jane started. "Chives..." Ayafre interrupted. Jane looked away guilty. "Just don't be so fast. We will be around Portugal after Corsica, you can see if you want to leave then," Jane said a bit sad.
So the Manana sailed off to Corsica following a map that was left for Jortunde.
"Yasac, we're close aren't we?" Scarlet asked to Yasac who was pouring over the map with his instruments. "Yes, but I'm sure it's leading us to that ship wreckage on the sandbar," Yasac stated. "Well if you're sure..." Scarlet said slowly. "Oi! Drop anchor! The Mañana dropped anchor and the crew all rowed over in a dingy. They got out into the wrecked ship. "Not much left of this thing, looks like this is the remains of the hold," Revloc observed. "What's that?" Jane wondered as she pointed to a large locked chest. "Hmm, this doesn't fit with the rest of the wreck, looks fairly new," Yasac stated. "Didn't the letter say something about further instructions lock up?" Sally said trying to think back to what the letter said. "Ayafre, Jane can you pick that?" Scarlet asked. "You bring your picks Jane? I didn't," Ayafre said. "Alright I'll crack this thing open and we'll see what Jortunde was up to," Jane said as she started to pick the lock. She quickly unlocked it and pushed on the chest to open it. "It won't budge!" Jane moaned. Chives bent down and helped her open it. They together ripped it open and all the sudden the chest exploded and a giant cloud of smoke filled the whole wreckage. The crew all chocked and fell over unconscious.
They woke on a shore only to see two ships sailing away. "What the...wait one of them of them is the Mañana!" Revloc shouted and ran off into knee deep sea water. Copyright 2008 Jonathan |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 10 August 2008 ) |
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