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Once a Runner: A Novel by John L. Parker, Jr.

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    Xykf|b ocy C`lb k Yr``by

    I oky ~eb mc|~ kllryk~b ofl~fc`kd xcy~ykkd co ~eb qcydn co ~eb

    |byfcr| yr``by . . . k mkyvbdcr| nb|lyfx~fc` co ~eb qk f~ ybkdd f|.

    \xcy~| Fddr|~yk~bn

    ^fmb ek| `c~ ~kgb` k ~cdd c` ~ef| abm. . . . Yr``by| qfdd of`n

    f`|xfyk~fc`kd xk||kab| bvbyqebyb ~ek~ ~eb qfdd qk`~ ~c |kvb.

    \~ky ^yfir`b

    Nc`~ db~ ~qb`~ bky| co xb`~-rx k`~flfxk~fc` k`n buxbl~k~fc`

    yrf` cry yr` ~eycrae ~ef| iccg. F~| xklbn k df~~db dfgb k

    mkyk~ec`lc`~ycddbn |~ky~$ |~yc`a of`f|e. . . . Nc ~ ~ef`g cr

    ekvb ~c ib k qcydn-ldk|| k~edb~b ~c lc``bl~ qf~e [rb`~c` Lk||fn

    k`n dcvb ~ef| iccg. Fo crvb bvby ~ykf`bn k`n lcmxb~bn k~ cry

    cq` efaeb|~ dbvbd$ crdd ab~ ~ef| ar.

    ^eb Gk`|k| Lf~ \~ky

    K of`bd lyko~bn qcyg co ofl~fc`.

    \~. Xb~by|irya ^fmb|

    Xky~ ~ykf`f`a mk`rkd$ xky~ ybdfafcr| ~ykl~$ xky~ dcvb |~cy$ k`n

    kdd kicr~ yr``f`a$ C`lb k Yr``by f| |c f`|xfyf`a f~ lcrdn ib ik``bnk| k xbyocymk`lb-b`ek`lf`a nyra.

    Ib`jkmf` Lebbvby$ kr~ecy co\~yfnb|:

    Yr``f`a ^eycrae Ef|~cy qf~e k` R`dfgbd K~edb~b$

    f`Yr``by| Qcydn

    C`lb k Yr``by| okmbn kifdf~ ~c lc`vb ~eb ~eyfdd co ~eb |xcy~

    dbkvb| f~| mkyg.

    \~. Dcrf| Xc|~-Nf|xk~le

    F`|xfyk~fc`kd.

    Leflkac \r`-^fmb|

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    Kd|c iv Jce` D. Xkygby$ Jy.

    Kakf` ~c Lky~ekab

    Yr``by| / C~eby Nybkmby|

    Mky~ Df{rcyf| Arfnb ocy ~eb Bdf~b Yr``by

    %qf~e Mky~ Df{rcyf&

    Yr` Ncq` Ofybn Rx k`n bbn Coo

    K`n ^eb` ~eb _rd~ryb Bk~| Vcr

    %bnf~cy&

    Ebky~ Mc`f~cy ykf`f`a ocy ~eb Lcmxdbk~ Fnfc~

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    C`lbkYr``by

    \lyfi`by

    @bq Vcyg Dc`nc` cyc`~c \n`b

    K @cvbd

    Jce` D. Xkygby$ Jy.

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    ^ef| iccg f| ocy Jklg Iklebdby k`n Oyk`g \ecy~by$

    cdn oyfb`n|$ aybk~ yr``by|. F` oc`n ybmbmiyk`lb$ obddcq|$

    co mk` yfkd| k`n mk` Mfdb| . . .

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    Ecq nfn F g`cq cr yk` ~eb mfdb f` >::

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    ;.

    C`lb . . .

    ^EB @FAE^ J CAABY\qbyb cr~ k| r|rkd.^eb cr`a mk` lcrdn |bb nfm ofaryb| c` ~eb ~yklg bvb`f` ~ef| xkdb dfae~$ |dcqd xcr`nf`a ycr`n k`n ycr`n ~eb mc|~ f`of-

    `f~b co occ~xk~e|. ^ebyb qcrdn ib$ eb g`bq$ xdrmx$ nb~bymf`bn-

    dccgf`a qcmb` |dcaaf`a kdc`a qefdb odb|e g`bb| {rfvbybn. ^eb

    qcrdn cllk|fc`kdd iyr|e nkmx ekfy ofbylbd oycm ~ebfy bb| k`n

    nybkm co lby~kf` lyrbd k`n |mfdf`a bmlbb|: ifgf`f|$ yfiic`-

    lr~~f`a|$ k`n ~eb dfgb. K`n ~eb`$ co lcry|b$ ~b``f| qf~e qef~b-

    ~cc~ebn mkdb|$ qfdn ~k`ac| f` ~eb mcc`dfae~.

    K`n mb` ~cc co vkyfcr| kab| k`n dbvbd| co nfdkxfnk~fc`$ xby-

    ekx| kd|c ayf`nf`a cr~ |blyb~ ok`~k|fb| %nfn ~eb xfl~ryb ~ebm-

    |bdvb| k Xb~by \`bdd ebdn iklg c`d i ok~ cy obky k| ~eb ~ry`bn

    ~ebfy f`b~-|blc`n {rky~by|3&.

    ^eb cr`a mk` |~ccn cr~|fnb ~eb ob`lb ocy k obq mcmb`~|

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    qefdb mc~e| k~~klgbn ~eb |~ybb~dfae~ nr|~fd$ dbkvf`a efm f` k nfm

    |xc~dfae~ co |qfydf`a |ekncq|. Eb dcvbn bkyd okdd f` Odcyfnk|

    Xk`ek`ndb. Dbkvb| qcrdn ib ~ry`f`a bd|bqebyb ir~ ebyb ~eb ec~iybk~e co |rmmby ebdn ocy~e. F` ~eb mcf|~ qkym~e ~ebyb qk| k

    |dfae~ bnab$ ~ecrae$ k okf`~ xycmf|b co lccdby kfy ek`af`a f` ~eb

    ~ybb~cx| k`n ldc|b ~c ~eb \xk`f|e mc||. Eb xflgbn rx ef| |mkdd

    ~ykvbd ika k`n qb`~ f` ~eb ak~b$ qkdgf`a ldclgqf|b c` ~eb ~yklg

    ~cqkyn ~eb qef~b |~ky~f`a xc|~ k~ ~eb ebkn co ~eb ofy|~ ~ry`. ^eb

    jcaaby| fa`cybn ~eb |~yk`aby f` |~ybb~ ldc~eb| k`n eb dfgbqf|b

    xkfn ~ebm `c k~~b`~fc`. ^eb qcrdn kdqk| ib ~ebyb.^eb efae-jrmx xf~ ekn ibb` ybkyyk`abn$ k `bq |bl~fc` co

    idbkleby| knnbn$ k qk~by jrmx f`|~kddbn ocy ~eb |~bbxdblek|b.

    Ir~ mc|~d f~ dccgbn ~eb |kmb k| f~ nfn ocry bky| kac$ ~eb |kmb

    k| k ocry-er`nybn-k`n-ocy~-kyn cvkd xycikid qfdd kdqk| dccg

    ~c c`b qec g`cq| k {rky~by co k mfdb i ~eb f`leb|.

    ^eb Akmb| qbyb cvby ocy ~ef| ~fmb kycr`n. Eb g`bq {rf~b

    qbdd ~ek~ ocy efm ~eb qbyb cvby ocy accn. Ocry bky| f| k vby

    dc`a ~fmb f` |cmb lfyldb|7 f` kl~rkd ~fmbybkd-qcydn ~fmb$ k|

    ~ek~ co |ecxgbbxby|$ f`|ryk`lb |bddby|$ lcmxcr`nby| co f`~byb|~$

    k`n |c c`f~ f| xbyekx| `c~ dc`a k~ kdd. Ir~ f` ef| cq` mf`n

    ^fmb ybxc|bn f` xblrdfky yblbx~kldb|7 ~c efm ~eb xk||f`a co c`b

    mf`r~b ~ccg c` kdd mk``by co ykyb mbk`f`a. K mf`r~b qk| c`b

    ocry~e co k ocry-mf`r~b mfdb$ k lcoobb |xcc` co ef| nk| k`n qk|.

    K| qf~e mk` co ~eb c~eby|$ eb ekn `c fnbk qek~ eb qcrdn ib

    ncf`a `cq ~ek~ f~ qk| kdd cvby. F~ qk| |rle k nbmk`nf`a ~ef`a$ |c

    of`kd$ |c lk~eky~fl$ ~ek~ mc|~ co ~ebm |fmxd `bvby ~ecrae~ ib-

    c`n f~. ^eb qbyb |lk~~bybn kycr`n ~eb qcydn `cq$ eb |rxxc|bn$

    ncf`a xyb~~ mrle qek~ eb qk| ncf`a k~ ~ef| mcmb`~: ~ef`gf`a

    bvby~ef`a cvby$ ~kddf`a akf`| k`n dc||b|.

    Eb qk| acf`a ~c ekvb ~c xflg rx ~eb ~eybkn co k `cymkd dfobkakf` k`n kd~ecrae eb nfn `c~ bukl~d g`cq qe$ eb ekn ~c |~ky~

    i lcmf`a iklg ebyb$ iklg ~c ~eb aybb`ecr|b qkym~e co ~eb Xk`-

    ek`ndb$ iklg ~c ~ef| vby {rky~by-mfdb cvkd ~ek~ |~fdd ebdn ef|

    dc`a-nyfbn |qbk~. Iklg ~c \bx~bmiby$ ~eb mc`~e co xycmf|b|.

    9 Jce` D. Xkygby$ Jy.

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    Eb xr~ ef| ika ncq` i ~eb xcdb-vkrd~ xf~$ dccgbn rx~yklg ~c

    mkgb |ryb `c c`b qk| lcmf`a$ k`n ~eb` qkdgbn rx ~c ~eb |~ky~-

    f`a df`b. Acn$ eb ~ecrae~$ c`b mcyb ~fmb c` ~eb df`b.F` dk`b c`b eb |~ccn vby |~fdd$ dccgf`a ncq` k~ ef| |~ybb~

    |ecb| %jcaaby| `cq acf`a kycr`n efm qf~e lryfcr| adk`lb|& k`n

    ~yfbn ~c lc`jryb rx ~eb obbdf`a. Ko~by k mcmb`~ k ~yklb co f~ lkmb

    ~c efm k`n eb g`bq ~ek~ qk| kdd ~ebyb qcrdn ib. Vcr lk` ybmbm-

    iby f~$ eb ~cdn efm|bdo$ ir~ cr lk``c~ buxbyfb`lb f~ kakf` dfgb

    ~ef|. Vcr ekvb ~c ib |k~f|ofbn qf~e ~eb |ekncq|. ^eb` eb ~ecrae~

    kicr~ ecq f~ qk| f` ~eb |blc`n k`n ~efyn dkx| k`n nblfnbn ~ek~~eb |ekncq| qbyb |cmb~fmb| {rf~b b`crae.

    Eb qk| ~qb`~-|fu bky|$ ofvb mc`~e|$ k`n ~qc nk| cdn$ k`n

    ~ecrae k| eb |~ccn ~ebyb c` ~eb |~ky~f`a df`b eb obd~ {rf~b k if~

    cdnby ~ek` ~ek~$ ~eb mr|ldb| ~ek~ yfxxdbn rx k`n ncq` f`|fnb ef|

    ~ycr|by dba lcrdn ekvb c`d ibb` ~eb yb|rd~$ ifcdcaflkdd |xbkgf`a$

    co mcyb ~ecr|k`n| co mfdb| ~ek` eb lkybn ~c ~ef`g kicr~ kdd k~

    c`b ~fmb.

    Eb ~yfbn ~c oclr| idryybn bmc~fc`|$ k mb~kxe|flkd xec~cayk-

    xeby zbycf`a f` c` ekyn bnab| ~c kdfa` f` ~eb lb`~by |{rkyb.

    Qek~ qk| ~ef| eb qk| obbdf`a `cq$ `c|~kdafk3 Ybayb~3 Ef| mf`n

    ncridb-ldr~lebn$ k|gbn ~eb mr|flkd {rb|~fc`: Km . . . F . . . ire-

    dcccc3

    Eb lcrdn `c~ ~bdd. Eb ybkdfzbn kakf` ecq knbx~ eb ekn ib-

    lcmb k~ `c~ ibf`a kidb ~c ~bdd |rle ~ef`a|. Ef| bmc~fc`| ekn lkd-

    dr|b| dfgb obb~.

    ^eb |~ky~by qcrdn ~bdd ~ebm ~c |~k`n ~kdd$ |c eb |~ccn ~kdd ocy k

    mcmb`~ ~ebyb f` ~eb `fae~. ^ebyb qcrdn ib ~eb |b~ lcmmk`n

    k`n ~eb` ~eb ar`. Eb ~ccg k nbbx iybk~e k`n ibak` qkdgf`a f`~c

    ~eb ~ry` f` ~eb okmfdfky lcr`~byldclgqf|b nfybl~fc`$ ~eb qk co kdd

    yklb|$ k`n ~ecrae~: ~eb ofy|~ dkx f| dc|~ f` k odk|e co knyb`kdf`bk`n xcr`nf`a eccvb| . . .

    C`lb k Yr``by

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    9.

    Nccibv Ekdd

    NCCIBV EKDD qk| c`b co ~ec|b k`lfb`~ yb|c`k`~ qccnb`irfdnf`a| ~ek~ |bbmbn ~c ecdn ~eb cfd| k`n b||b`lb| co ~ec|bqec ekn dfvbn ~ebyb cvby ~eb bky|. Dfgb k` cdn ldc~e bk| lekfy$ f~

    qk| mr|~ ir~ lcmocy~kidb.

    K| qf~e mk` |~yrl~ryb| ~ek~ ekn k~ c`b ~fmb ibb` |cmbc`b|

    ecmb$ f~ mk`kabn ~c yb~kf` k lby~kf` okmfdfkd qkym~e kmfn ~eb

    lryyb`~ f`|~f~r~fc`kd ldkmcy. F~ ~ermxbn k`n iccmbn ecddcqd

    yk~eby ~ek` ldflgf`a f` ~eb ic` |~kllk~c mk``by co mcyb mcn-

    by`$ mcyb booflfb`~ nqbddf`a|.

    Ekvf`a c`lb ecr|bn Gby`|vfddb mkcy Efykm \fnblkyNccib k`n ef| vkyfcr| ldkmcyf`a gf`nybn$ ~eb dkyab oyfb`nd

    ecr|b ekn ibb` r|bn nryf`a yblb`~ bky| ~c |ebd~by ~efy~-|cmb

    mbmiby| co \cr~ebk|~by` R`fvby|f~| ayk~bord ~yklg ~bkm. Dc-

    lk~bn k mbylford ~qc idclg| oycm ~eb lkmxr| xycxby$ ~eb bnfoflb

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    bmf~~bn oycm mcy`f`a ~c `fae~ k |~bkn ir~ r`xybnfl~kidb lklc-

    xec` co ikybd ermk` bdx|$ xyfmcynfkd |eyfbg|$ k`n coo-gb

    oykamb`~| co lryyb`~ ef~ |c`a|$ kdd lcry~b| co k |f`ardky aycrx cocr`a |kxfb`| qec|b mkf` or`l~fc` f` dfob qk| ~c yr`$ jrmx$ k`n

    ~c|| ebkv cijbl~| kicr~. K`n ~c nc |c oky ib~~by ~ek`$ qbdd$ cynf-

    `ky mcy~kd|. ^eb `b~ kvkfdkidb b`bya yb{rfybn ~c xycnrlb k

    |bvb`~-occ~ |ec~ xr~ cy k |bvb`-occ~ efae jrmx jr|~ cllk|fc`kdd

    qcrdn `c~ ib lc`~kf`bn i mbyb qccn k`n xdk|~by.

    Qkdd| ~ybmidbn k`n ~ebyb qbyb bbyfb acf`a|-c`.

    CDN \FNBLKY NCCIBVnblbk|bn ocy bky| `cqqcrdn ekvb

    ibb` ~flgdbn xf`g. Ef| `flg`kmb qk| k` ky~fokl~ co ~ec|b lkyboybb

    Nbxyb||fc` nk| co b|~bybky qeb` c` k \k~rynk `fae~ ocy xryb

    nfvby|fc` Nccib qcrdn ncq` kicr~ ~eybb {rky~by| co k jky co ~eb

    dclkd r`~kubn ibvbykab$ |lccx rx ef| ~f` |~ky~dbn qfobk xyb~~$

    ycr`n-bbn ~ef`a `kmbn Bmmk Dbbnbxc|f~ eby f` ~eb |fnblky

    co ef| ;6

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    ik~& qb`~ yckyf`a f`~c ncq`~cq` Gby`|vfddb ~c |~ykob ~eb acdd-

    nk`abn xfabc`| qefdb |kn-bbn cdn lcnaby| |k~ kycr`n ~eb

    lcry~ecr|b |{rkyb qk~lef`a f` qyf`gdbn kmr|bmb`~.Dkqn$ \ebyfoo$ F |rqk`bb . . . F dkqnnc`~ g`cq qe F ab~ |c

    mbk` |cmb~fmb|$ eb |kfn qf~e ~yrb ybayb~ ~eb mcy`f`a ko~by ef|

    kl~rkd kyyb|~. Eb ebdn ef| |ekaa$ ~eyciif`a ebkn f` ef| ek`n|.

    Qbdd$ Nknn$ |kfn ~eb |ebyfoo$ xbcxdb f| ibaf``f`a ~c ~kdg$

    k`n ~ek~| k oklg. \ebyfoo Qfddfkm Icc~| Nccib qk| ef|

    bdnb|~.

    Qek~ F lkf`~ {rf~b ofaryb cr~$ lc`~f`rbn ~eb dkqmk`$ f|qe cr kdqk| qk`~ ~c ac k`n ~kgb Mkmk qf~e cr.

    \fnblky xbygbn rx |rnnb`d. Qe$ eb lklgdbn |kvkabd$ |eb

    b`jc| ~ebxryb ebdd cr~ co f~+

    F~ qk| xbyekx| ybodbl~fvb co ~eb r`fvby|f~ ~cq`| lcddbl~fvb

    |b`|b co ermcy qeb` f~ bdbl~bn \fnblky mkcy k bky dk~by. Eb

    ekn yr` c` k xdk~ocym co ~eycq ~eb ik|~kyn| cr~$ f`~byb|~f`a c`d

    iblkr|b ~eb ik|~kyn| qbyb$ `bkyd qf~ecr~ bulbx~fc`$ ef| cq`

    idccn gf`. ^yrb ~c ocym$ eb ~eybq ~eb ik|~kyn| cr~.

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    nbbx ery~ lkmb qeb` ef| cr`ab|~ ic$ icy` qeb` \fnblky qk|

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    ~ef`a co k` cynf`ky gdr~z. Icc~| lcrdn ekvb ekn k Qb|~ Xcf`~

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    Jce` Nbbyb ~ykl~cy. Qeb` ~eb lefdn qk| |~mfbn i k lcr|f`

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    lbx~| k| qbdd k| k xk~yc` co fyc`$ ~c ab~ ocy ~ef| |dfae~d knndbn

    lefdn ~ek~ qefle ef| c~eby lefdnyb` dklgbn %k`n nfn`~ qk`~ ocy

    ? Jce` D. Xkygby$ Jy.

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    ~ek~ mk~~by&: klknbmfl |~k~r|. Vbky| dk~by$ ~ef| lryfcr| ~k|g

    qcrdn ib kllcmxdf|ebn f` ~eb qk ~ek~ nfooflrd~ cy fmxc||fidb

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    k `k|lb`~ b`~cmcdca nbxky~mb`~& ~eb ecr|b eb ekn cllrxfbn

    ocy |bvb` bky| k| mkcy. ^eb nbbn lc`~kf`bn ~eb r|rkd icfdby-

    xdk~b: F` bulek`ab ocy ~b` ncddky| k`n c~eby accn k`n dkqord

    lc`|fnbyk~fc` . . . ^eb `k~ryb co ~eb c~eby accn k`n dkqord lc`-

    |fnbyk~fc` qk| g`cq` c`d ~c \fnblky efm|bdo$ ef| dkqby$ k`n~eb xyb|fnb`~-nb|fa`k~b co ~eb |leccd$ ~eb Ec`cykidb \~bvb` L.

    Xyfamk`$ dk~b co Odcyfnk| krar|~ |rxybmb lcry~. K~ ~ek~ ~fmb

    Bmmk Dbb qk| ofvb bky| f` eby aykvb k`n cdn \fnblky qk`~bn ~c

    ab~ kqk oycm ncq`acnnkm`~cq` xcdf~fl| k`n iklg ~c ef|

    yk`le qebyb eb lcrdn k~ dbk|~ acnnkm` qbdd nfb qf~e ~eb ec`-

    b|~ |mbdd co oyb|e nr`a k`n ek f` m `c|~yfd|. Eb nfn`~ mb`-

    ~fc` ~ek~ eb qk| kl~rkdd ~cf`a qf~e ~eb `c~fc` co ybvfvf`a ~eb

    k`lfb`~ k`n ibdcvbn Ekydb$ ~eb` yr|~f`a r`nby k xkf`~-

    |xk~~bybn lk`vk| ~kyx f` ~eb iky`.

    Ef| cr`ab|~ qcrdn ekvb ~c ac ~eycrae ~eb mc~fc`| co k~~b`n-

    f`a ~eb r`fvby|f~$ |c ~eb ocymkd lc`obyyf`a co ~eb nbaybb qcrdn

    `c~ ~kgb xdklb ocy k`c~eby ocry bky|. \fnblky mrlgbn kycr`n ~eb

    yk`le$ ac~ f` ef| ocybmk`| ekfy$ icrae~ k ofo~-ofvb-klyb xblk`

    aycvb$ k`n qk| of`kdd xby|rknbn ~c xrylek|b k xklgkab ~cry nbkd

    ~c |bvbykd Mbuflk` lf~fb| co f`~byb|~. Eb yb~ry`bn ykvf`a kicr~

    ~eb ybab`byk~fvb xycxby~fb| co lby~kf` lkl~r| nf|~fddk~b| k`n ef`~-

    f`a nkygd kicr~ ~eb fm-k`n-bu xcy~ ifn`b||.

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    C`lb k Yr``by 1

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    K accn if~ co Nccib ocdgdcyb qk| g`cq` f` k`n kycr`n

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    5 Jce` D. Xkygby$ Jy.

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    Yrnkyn Gfxdf`a qk| k >:

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    |ekyxd lef|bdbn k| fo oycm |k`n-qcy` nyfo~qccn$ odr~bn qf~e

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    ~cy `cy~e co Cydk`nc$ eb ekn ibb` lcry~bn i k `rmiby co

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    C`lb k Yr``by ;

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    r`yb|~ykf`bn$ qcrdn |fmxd nb|~yc mc|~ co ef| ~bkmmk~b|. \cc`

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    ;> Jce` D. Xkygby$ Jy.

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    @c~ ~cc ikn$ F yblgc`. @riif`| ~yfbn ~c ayf`.

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    C`lb k Yr``by ;2

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    |kxxf`a k`n r|bdb|| ~c ~eb icn k| k xycjbl~fdb. ^eb yr``by

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    ;? Jce` D. Xkygby$ Jy.

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    lkgb|$ |kr|kab$ `bkyd k {rky~ co mfdg$ k`n ~qc ncrae`r~| ocy

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    C`lb k Yr``by ;1

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    yflknb| ~c dbkn ~eb k~~klg. ^eb qbyb `byvcr|$ efae-|~yr`a$ bf-

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