English
Nightfell.Iwenttobed.Isleptprettypoorly.
Man–eatersplayedamajorroleinmydreams.
AndIfounditmoreorlessappropriatethattheFrenchwordforshark,requin,hasitslinguisticrootsinthewordrequiem.
Thenextdayatfouro'clockinthemorning,IwasawakenedbythestewardwhomCaptainNemohadplacedexpresslyatmyservice.Igotupquickly,dressed,andwentintothelounge.
CaptainNemowaswaitingforme.
"ProfessorAronnax,"hesaidtome,"areyoureadytostart?"
"I'mready."
"Kindlyfollowme."
"Whataboutmycompanions,Captain?"
"They'vebeenalertedandarewaitingforus."
"Aren'twegoingtoputonourdivingsuits?"Iasked.
"Notyet.Ihaven'tlettheNautiluspulltoonearthecoast,andwe'refairlywelloutfromtheMannaroysterbank.
ButIhavetheskiffready,anditwilltakeustotheexactspotwherewe'lldisembark,whichwillsaveusaprettylongtrek.
It'scarryingourdivingequipment,andwe'llsuitupjustbeforewebeginourunderwaterexploring."
CaptainNemotookmetothecentralcompanionwaywhosestepsledtotheplatform.
NedandConseilwerethere,enrapturedwiththe"pleasuretrip"gettingunderway.
Oarsinposition,fiveoftheNautilus'ssailorswerewaitingforusaboardtheskiff,whichwasmooredalongside.Thenightwasstilldark.
Layersofcloudscloakedtheskyandleftonlyafewstarsinview.
Myeyesflewtothesidewherelandlay,butIsawonlyablurredlinecoveringthree–quartersofthehorizonfromsouthwesttonorthwest.
GoingupCeylon'swestcoastduringthenight,theNautiluslaywestofthebay,orratherthatgulfformedbythemainlandandMannarIsland.
Underthesedarkwaterstherestretchedthebankofshellfish,aninexhaustiblefieldofpearlsmorethantwentymileslong.
CaptainNemo,Conseil,NedLand,andIfoundseatsinthesternoftheskiff.
Thelongboat'scoxswaintookthetiller;hisfourcompanionsleanedintotheiroars;themooringswerecastoffandwepulledclear.
Theskiffheadedsouthward.Theoarsmentooktheirtime.
Iwatchedtheirstrokesvigorouslycatchthewater,andtheyalwayswaitedtensecondsbeforerowingagain,followingthepracticeusedinmostnavies.
Whilethelongboatcoasted,dropsofliquidflickedfromtheoarsandhitthedarktroughsofthewaves,pitter–patteringlikesplashesofmoltenlead.
Comingfromwellout,amildswellmadetheskiffrollgently,andafewcrestingbillowslappedatitsbow.
Weweresilent.WhatwasCaptainNemothinking?
Perhapsthatthisapproachingshorewastoocloseforcomfort,contrarytotheCanadian'sviewsinwhichitstillseemedtoofaraway.
AsforConseil,hehadcomealongoutofsimplecuriosity.
Near5:30thefirstglimmersoflightonthehorizondefinedtheupperlinesofthecoastwithgreaterdistinctness.
Fairlyflattotheeast,itswelledalittletowardthesouth.
Fivemilesstillseparateditfromus,anditsbeachmergedwiththemistywaters.
Betweenusandtheshore,theseawasdeserted.Notaboat,notadiver.
Profoundsolitudereignedoverthisgatheringplaceofpearlfishermen.
AsCaptainNemohadcommented,wewerearrivinginthesewaterwaysamonthtoosoon.
Atsixo'clockthedaybrokesuddenly,withthatspeeduniquetotropicalregions,whichexperiencenorealdawnordusk.
Thesun'srayspiercedthecloudcurtaingatheredontheeasterlyhorizon,andtheradiantorbroseswiftly.
Icouldclearlyseetheshore,whichfeaturedafewsparsetreeshereandthere.
TheskiffadvancedtowardMannarIsland,whichcurvedtothesouth.CaptainNemostoodupfromhisthwartandstudiedthesea.
Athissignaltheanchorwaslowered,butitschainbarelyranbecausethebottomlaynomorethanameterdown,andthislocalitywasoneoftheshallowestspotsnearthebankofshellfish.
Instantlytheskiffwheeledaroundundertheebbtide'soutboundthrust.
"Hereweare,ProfessorAronnax,"CaptainNemothensaid."Youobservethisconfinedbay?
Amonthfromnowinthisveryplace,thenumerousfishingboatsoftheharvesterswillgather,andthesearethewaterstheirdiverswillransacksodaringly.
Thisbayisfelicitouslylaidoutfortheirtypeoffishing.
It'sshelteredfromthestrongestwinds,andtheseaisneververyturbulenthere,highlyfavorableconditionsfordivingwork.
Nowlet'sputonourunderwatersuits,andwe'llbeginourstroll."
Ididn'treply,andwhilestaringatthesesuspiciouswaves,Ibegantoputonmyheavyaquaticclothes,helpedbythelongboat'ssailors.
CaptainNemoandmytwocompanionssuitedupaswell.
NoneoftheNautilus'smenweretogowithusonthisnewexcursion.
Soonwewereimprisoneduptotheneckinindia–rubberclothing,andstrapsfastenedtheairdevicesontoourbacks.
AsfortheRuhmkorffdevice,itdidn'tseemtobeinthepicture.
Beforeinsertingmyheadintoitscoppercapsule,Icommentedonthistothecaptain.
"Ourlightingequipmentwouldbeuselesstous,"thecaptainansweredme.
"Wewon'tbegoingverydeep,andthesun'srayswillbesufficienttolightourway.
Besides,it'sunwisetocarryelectriclanternsunderthesewaves.
Theirbrightnessmightunexpectedlyattractcertaindangerousoccupantsofthesewaterways."
AsCaptainNemopronouncedthesewords,IturnedtoConseilandNedLand.Butmytwofriendshadalreadyencasedtheircraniumsintheirmetalheadgear,andtheycouldneitherhearnorreply.
IhadonequestionlefttoaddresstoCaptainNemo.
"Whataboutourweapons?"Iaskedhim."Ourrifles?"
"Rifles!Whatfor?Don'tyourmountaineersattackbearsdaggerinhand?Andisn'tsteelsurerthanlead?Here'sasturdyblade.Slipitunderyourbeltandlet'sbeoff."
Istaredatmycompanions.Theywerearmedinthesamefashion,andNedLandwasalsobrandishinganenormousharpoonhehadstowedintheskiffbeforeleavingtheNautilus.
Then,followingthecaptain'sexample,Iletmyselfbecrownedwithmyheavycoppersphere,andourairtanksimmediatelywentintoaction.
Aninstantlater,thelongboat'ssailorshelpedusoverboardoneaftertheother,andwesetfootonlevelsandinameterandahalfofwater.CaptainNemogaveusahandsignal.
Wefollowedhimdownagentleslopeanddisappearedunderthewaves.
Theretheobsessivefearsinmybrainleftme.Ibecamesurprisinglycalmagain.TheeasewithwhichIcouldmoveincreasedmyconfidence,andthemanystrangesightscaptivatedmyimagination.
Thesunwasalreadysendingsufficientlightunderthesewaves.Thetiniestobjectsremainedvisible.
Aftertenminutesofwalking,wewereinfivemetersofwater,andtheterrainhadbecomealmostflat.
Likeacoveyofsnipeoveramarsh,thereroseunderfootschoolsofunusualfishfromthegenusMonopterus,whosemembershavenofinbuttheirtail.
IrecognizedtheJavaneseeel,agenuineeight–decimeterserpentwithabluishgraybelly,which,withoutthegoldlinesoveritsflanks,couldeasilybeconfusedwiththecongereel.
Fromthebutterfishgenus,whoseovalbodiesareveryflat,Iobservedseveraladornedinbrilliantcolorsandsportingadorsalfinlikeasickle,ediblefishthat,whendriedandmarinated,makeanexcellentdishknownbythename"karawade";thensomeseapoachers,fishbelongingtothegenusAspidophoroides,whosebodiesarecoveredwithscalyarmordividedintoeightlengthwisesections.
Meanwhile,asthesungotprogressivelyhigher,itlitupthewaterymassmoreandmore.Theseafloorchangedlittlebylittle.
Itsfine–grainedsandwasfollowedbyagenuinecausewayofsmoothcragscoveredbyacarpetofmollusksandzoophytes.
Amongotherspecimensinthesetwobranches,Inotedsomewindowpaneoysterswiththinvalvesofunequalsize,atypeofostracoduniquetotheRedSeaandtheIndianOcean,thenorange–huedlucinawithcircularshells,awl–shapedaugershells,someofthosePersianmurexsnailsthatsupplytheNautiluswithsuchwonderfuldye,spikyperiwinklesfifteencentimeterslongthatroseunderthewaveslikehandsreadytograbyou,turbansnailswithshellsmadeofhornandbristlingalloverwithspines,lampshells,edibleduckclamsthatfeedtheHindumarketplace,subtlyluminousjellyfishofthespeciesPelagiapanopyra,andfinallysomewonderfulOculinaflabelliforma,magnificentseafansthatfashiononeofthemostluxurianttreeformsinthisocean.
Inthemidstofthismovingvegetation,underarborsofwaterplants,thereracedlegionsofclumsyarticulates,inparticularsomefangedfrogcrabswhosecarapacesformaslightlyroundedtriangle,robbercrabsexclusivetothesewaterways,andhorribleparthenopecrabswhoseappearancewasrepulsivetotheeye.
Oneanimalnolesshideous,whichIencounteredseveraltimes,wastheenormouscrabthatMr.Darwinobserved,towhichnaturehasgiventheinstinctandrequisitestrengthtoeatcoconuts;itscramblesuptreesonthebeachandsendsthecoconutstumbling;theyfractureintheirfallandareopenedbyitspowerfulpincers.
Here,undertheseclearwaves,thiscrabracedaroundwithmatchlessagility,whilegreenturtlesfromthespeciesfrequentingtheMalabarcoastmovedsluggishlyamongthecrumblingrocks.
Nearseveno'clockwefinallysurveyedthebankofshellfish,wherepearloystersreproducebythemillions.
Thesevaluablemolluskssticktorocks,wherethey'restronglyattachedbyamassofbrownfilamentsthatforbidstheirmovingabout.
Inthisrespectoystersareinferioreventomussels,towhomnaturehasnotdeniedalltalentforlocomotion.
TheshellfishMeleagrina,thatwombforpearlswhosevalvesarenearlyequalinsize,hastheshapeofaroundshellwiththickwallsandaveryroughexterior.
Someoftheseshellswerefurrowedwithflaky,greenishbandsthatradiateddownfromthetop.Theseweretheyoungoysters.
Theothershadruggedblacksurfaces,measureduptofifteencentimetersinwidth,andweretenormoreyearsold.
CaptainNemopointedtothisprodigiousheapofshellfish,andIsawthattheseminesweregenuinelyinexhaustible,sincenature'screativepowersaregreaterthanman'sdestructiveinstincts.
Truetothoseinstincts,NedLandgreedilystuffedthefinestofthesemollusksintoanethecarriedathisside.
Butwecouldn'tstop.Wehadtofollowthecaptain,whoheadeddowntrailsseeminglyknownonlytohimself.
Theseafloorrosenoticeably,andwhenIliftedmyarms,sometimestheywouldpassabovethesurfaceofthesea.
Thentheleveloftheoysterbankwouldlowerunpredictably.
Oftenwewentaroundtall,pointedrocksrisinglikepyramids.
Intheirdarkcreviceshugecrustaceans,aimingtheirlonglegslikeheavyartillery,watcheduswithunblinkingeyes,whileunderfoottherecreptmillipedes,bloodworms,ariciaworms,andannelidworms,whoseantennasandtubulartentacleswereincrediblylong.
Justthenahugecaveopenedupinourpath,hollowedfromapicturesquepileofrockswhosesmoothheightswerecompletelyhungwithunderwaterflora.
Atfirstthiscavelookedpitch–blacktome.
Inside,thesun'sraysseemedtodiminishbydegrees.
Theirhazytransparencywasnothingmorethandrownedlight.
CaptainNemowentin.Wefollowedhim.
Myeyessoongrewaccustomedtothiscomparativegloom.
Idistinguishedtheunpredictablycontouredspringingsofavault,supportedbynaturalpillarsfirmlybasedonagranitefoundation,liketheweightycolumnsofTuscanarchitecture.
Whyhadourincomprehensibleguidetakenusintothedepthsofthisunderwatercrypt?Iwouldsoonfindout.
Aftergoingdownafairlysteepslope,ourfeettrodthefloorofasortofcircularpit.ThereCaptainNemostopped,andhishandindicatedanobjectthatIhadn'tyetnoticed.
Itwasanoysterofextraordinarydimensions,atitanicgiantclam,aholy–waterfontthatcouldhaveheldawholelake,abasinmorethantwometerswide,henceevenbiggerthantheoneadorningtheNautilus'slounge.
Iapproachedthisphenomenalmollusk.Itsmassoffilamentsattachedittoatableofgranite,andthereitgrewbyitselfinthemidstofthecave'scalmwaters.
Iestimatedtheweightofthisgiantclamat300kilograms.
Hencesuchanoysterheldfifteenkilosofmeat,andyou'dneedthestomachofKingGargantuatoeatacoupledozen.
CaptainNemowasobviouslyfamiliarwiththisbivalve'sexistence.
Thiswasn'tthefirsttimehe'dpaiditavisit,andIthoughthissolereasonforleadingustothislocalitywastoshowusanaturalcuriosity.Iwasmistaken.
CaptainNemohadanexplicitpersonalinterestincheckingonthecurrentconditionofthisgiantclam.
Themollusk'stwovalveswerepartlyopen.
Thecaptainapproachedandstuckhisdaggerverticallybetweentheshellstodiscourageanyideasaboutclosing;thenwithhishandsheraisedthefringed,membrane–filledtunicthatmadeuptheanimal'smantle.
There,betweenitsleaflikefolds,Isawaloosepearlasbigasacoconut.
Itsglobularshape,perfectclarity,andwonderfulorientmadeitajewelofincalculablevalue.
Carriedawaybycuriosity,Istretchedoutmyhandtotakeit,weighit,fondleit!
Butthecaptainstoppedme,signaledno,removedhisdaggerinoneswiftmotion,andletthetwovalvessnapshut.
IthenunderstoodCaptainNemo'sintent.
Byleavingthepearlburiedbeneaththegiantclam'smantle,heallowedittogrowimperceptibly.
Witheachpassingyearthemollusk'ssecretionsaddednewconcentriclayers.
Thecaptainalonewasfamiliarwiththecavewherethiswonderfulfruitofnaturewas"ripening";healonerearedit,sotospeak,inordertotransferitonedaytohisdearlybelovedmuseum.
Perhaps,followingtheexamplesofoysterfarmersinChinaandIndia,hehadevenpredeterminedthecreationofthispearlbystickingunderthemollusk'sfoldssomepieceofglassormetalthatwasgraduallycoveredwithmother–of–pearl.
Inanycase,comparingthispearltoothersIalreadyknewabout,andtothoseshimmeringinthecaptain'scollection,Iestimatedthatitwasworthatleast₣10,000,000.
Itwasasuperbnaturalcuriosityratherthanaluxuriouspieceofjewelry,becauseIdon'tknowofanyfemaleearthatcouldhandleit.
Ourvisittothisopulentgiantclamcametoanend.CaptainNemoleftthecave,andweclimbedbackupthebankofshellfishinthemidstoftheseclearwatersnotyetdisturbedbydiversatwork.
Wewalkedbyourselves,genuineloiterersstoppingorstrayingasourfanciesdictated.
Formypart,Iwasnolongerworriedaboutthosedangersmyimaginationhadsoridiculouslyexaggerated.
Theshallowsdrewnoticeablyclosertothesurfaceofthesea,andsoon,walkinginonlyameterofwater,myheadpassedwellabovetheleveloftheocean.
Conseilrejoinedme,andgluinghishugecoppercapsuletomine,hiseyesgavemeafriendlygreeting.
Butthisloftyplateaumeasuredonlyafewfathoms,andsoonwereenteredOurElement.
IthinkI'venowearnedtherighttodubitthat.
Tenminuteslater,CaptainNemostoppedsuddenly.
Ithoughthe'dcalledahaltsothatwecouldturnandstartback.No.
Withagestureheorderedustocrouchbesidehimatthefootofawidecrevice.
Hishandmotionedtowardaspotwithintheliquidmass,andIlookedcarefully.
Fivemetersawayashadowappearedanddroppedtotheseafloor.Thealarmingideaofsharkscrossedmymind.ButIwasmistaken,andonceagainwedidn'thavetodealwithmonstersofthedeep.
Itwasaman,alivingman,ablackIndianfisherman,apoordevilwhonodoubthadcometogatherwhathecouldbeforeharvesttime.
Isawthebottomofhisdinghy,mooredafewfeetabovehishead.
Hewoulddiveandgobackupinquicksuccession.
Astonecutintheshapeofasugarloaf,whichhegrippedbetweenhisfeetwhilearopeconnectedittohisboat,servedtolowerhimmorequicklytotheoceanfloor.Thiswastheextentofhisequipment.
Arrivingontheseaflooratadepthofaboutfivemeters,hefelltohiskneesandstuffedhissackwithshellfishgatheredatrandom.
Thenhewentbackup,emptiedhissack,pulleduphisstone,andstartedalloveragain,thewholeprocesslastingonlythirtyseconds.
Thisdiverdidn'tseeus.Ashadowcastbyourcraghidusfromhisview.
Andbesides,howcouldthispoorIndianeverhaveguessedthathumanbeings,creatureslikehimself,werenearhimunderthewaters,eavesdroppingonhismovements,notmissingasingledetailofhisfishing!
Sohewentupanddownseveraltimes.Hegatheredonlyabouttenshellfishperdive,becausehehadtotearthemfromthebankswhereeachclungwithitstoughmassoffilaments.
Andhowmanyoftheseoystersforwhichheriskedhislifewouldhavenopearlinthem!
Iobservedhimwithgreatcare.Hismovementsweresystematicallyexecuted,andforhalfanhournodangerseemedtothreatenhim.
SoIhadgottenusedtothesightofthisfascinatingfishingwhenallatonce,justastheIndianwaskneelingontheseafloor,Isawhimmakeafrightenedgesture,stand,andgatherhimselftospringbacktothesurfaceofthewaves.
Iunderstoodhisfear.Agiganticshadowappearedabovethepoordiver.Itwasasharkofhugesize,movingindiagonally,eyesablaze,jawswideopen!
Iwasspeechlesswithhorror,unabletomakeasinglemovement.
Withonevigorousstrokeofitsfins,thevoraciousanimalshottowardtheIndian,whojumpedasideandavoidedtheshark'sbitebutnotthethrashingofitstail,becausethattailstruckhimacrossthechestandstretchedhimoutontheseafloor.
Thisscenelastedbarelyafewseconds.Thesharkreturned,rolledoveronitsback,andwasgettingreadytocuttheIndianinhalf,whenCaptainNemo,whowasstationedbesideme,suddenlystoodup.
Thenhestroderighttowardthemonster,daggerinhand,readytofightitatclosequarters.
Justasitwasabouttosnapupthepoorfisherman,theman–eatersawitsnewadversary,repositioneditselfonitsbelly,andheadedswiftlytowardhim.
IcanseeCaptainNemo'sbearingtothisday.
Bracinghimself,hewaitedforthefearsomeman–eaterwithwonderfulcomposure,andwhenthelatterrushedathim,thecaptainleapedasidewithprodigiousquickness,avoidedacollision,andsankhisdaggerintoitsbelly.Butthatwasn'ttheendofthestory.Adreadfulbattlewasjoined.
Thesharkbellowed,sotospeak.Bloodwaspouringintothewavesfromitswounds.Theseawasdyedred,andthroughthisopaqueliquidIcouldseenothingelse.
Nothingelseuntilthemomentwhen,throughariftintheclouds,Isawthedaringcaptainclingingtooneoftheanimal'sfins,fightingthemonsteratclosequarters,belaboringhisenemy'sbellywithstabsofthedaggeryetunabletodeliverthedecidingthrust,inotherwords,adirecthittotheheart.
Initsstrugglestheman–eaterchurnedthewaterymasssofuriously,itseddiesthreatenedtoknockmeover.
Iwantedtoruntothecaptain'srescue.ButIwastransfixedwithhorror,unabletomove.
Istared,wild–eyed.Isawthefightenteranewphase.
Thecaptainfelltotheseafloor,toppledbytheenormousmassweighinghimdown.
Thentheshark'sjawsopenedastoundinglywide,likeapairofindustrialshears,andthatwouldhavebeenthefinishofCaptainNemohadnotNedLand,quickasthought,rushedforwardwithhisharpoonanddrivenitsdreadfulpointintotheshark'sunderside.
Thewavesweresaturatedwithmassesofblood.
Thewatersshookwiththemovementsoftheman–eater,whichthrashedaboutwithindescribablefury.NedLandhadn'tmissedhistarget.Thiswasthemonster'sdeathrattle.
Piercedtotheheart,itwasstrugglingwithdreadfulspasmswhoseaftershocksknockedConseiloffhisfeet.
MeanwhileNedLandpulledthecaptainclear.
Uninjured,thelatterstoodup,wentrighttotheIndian,quicklycuttheropebindingthemantohisstone,tookthefellowinhisarms,andwithavigorouskickoftheheel,rosetothesurfaceofthesea.
Thethreeofusfollowedhim,andafewmomentslater,miraculouslysafe,wereachedthefisherman'slongboat.
CaptainNemo'sfirstconcernwastorevivethisunfortunateman.Iwasn'tsurehewouldsucceed.
Ihopedso,sincethepoordevilhadn'tbeenunderverylong.
Butthatstrokefromtheshark'stailcouldhavebeenhisdeathblow.
Fortunately,aftervigorousmassagingbyConseilandthecaptain,Isawthenearlydrownedmanregainconsciousnesslittlebylittle.Heopenedhiseyes.
Howstartledhemusthavefelt,howfrightenedeven,atseeingfourhuge,coppercraniumsleaningoverhim!
Andaboveall,whatmusthehavethoughtwhenCaptainNemopulledabagofpearlsfromapocketinhisdivingsuitandplaceditinthefisherman'shands?
ThismagnificentbenefactionfromtheManoftheWaterstothepoorIndianfromCeylonwasacceptedbythelatterwithtremblinghands.
Hisbewilderedeyesindicatedthathedidn'tknowtowhatsuperhumancreaturesheowedbothhislifeandhisfortune.
Atthecaptain'ssignalwereturnedtothebankofshellfish,andretracingoursteps,wewalkedforhalfanhouruntilweencounteredtheanchorconnectingtheseafloorwiththeNautilus'sskiff.
Backonboard,thesailorshelpeddivestusofourheavycoppercarapaces.
CaptainNemo'sfirstwordswerespokentotheCanadian.
"Thankyou,Mr.Land,"hetoldhim.
"Titfortat,Captain,"NedLandreplied."Iowedittoyou."
Theghostofasmileglidedacrossthecaptain'slips,andthatwasall.
"TotheNautilus,"hesaid.
Thelongboatflewoverthewaves.Afewminuteslaterweencounteredtheshark'scorpseagain,floating.
Fromtheblackmarkingsonthetipsofitsfins,IrecognizedthedreadfulSqualusmelanopterusfromtheseasoftheEastIndies,avarietyinthespeciesofsharksproper.
Itwasmorethantwenty–fivefeetlong;itsenormousmouthoccupiedathirdofitsbody.
Itwasanadult,ascouldbeseenfromthesixrowsofteethforminganisoscelestriangleinitsupperjaw.
Conseillookedatitwithpurelyscientificfascination,andI'msureheplacedit,notwithoutgoodreason,intheclassofcartilaginousfish,orderChondropterygiawithfixedgills,familySelacia,genusSqualus.
WhileIwascontemplatingthisinertmass,suddenlyadozenofthesevoraciousmelanopteraappearedaroundourlongboat;but,payingnoattentiontous,theypouncedonthecorpseandquarreledovereveryscrapofit.
By8:30wewerebackonboardtheNautilus.
ThereIfelltothinkingabouttheincidentsthatmarkedourexcursionovertheMannaroysterbank.Twoimpressionsinevitablystoodout.
OneconcernedCaptainNemo'smatchlessbravery,theotherhisdevotiontoahumanbeing,arepresentativeofthatracefromwhichhehadfledbeneaththeseas.
Inspiteofeverything,thisstrangemanhadn'tyetsucceededincompletelystiflinghisheart.
WhenIsharedtheseimpressionswithhim,heansweredmeinatonetouchedwithemotion:
"ThatIndian,professor,livesinthelandoftheoppressed,andIamtothisday,andwillbeuntilmylastbreath,anativeofthatsameland!"
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