InacontinuouslinefromthatpeninsulastretchthelongislandsofSumatra,Java,Bally,andTimor;which,withmanyothers,formavastmole,orrampart,lengthwiseconnectingAsiawithAustralia,anddividingthelongunbrokenIndianoceanfromthethicklystuddedorientalarchipelagoes.
Thisrampartispiercedbyseveralsally-portsfortheconvenienceofshipsandwhales;conspicuousamongwhicharethestraitsofSundaandMalacca.
ThosenarrowstraitsofSundadivideSumatrafromJava;andstandingmidwayinthatvastrampartofislands,buttressedbythatboldgreenpromontory,knowntoseamenasJavaHead;theynotalittlecorrespondtothecentralgatewayopeningintosomevastwalledempire:andconsideringtheinexhaustiblewealthofspices,andsilks,andjewels,andgold,andivory,withwhichthethousandislandsofthatorientalseaareenriched,itseemsasignificantprovisionofnature,thatsuchtreasures,bytheveryformationoftheland,shouldatleastbeartheappearance,howeverineffectual,ofbeingguardedfromtheall-graspingwesternworld.
TheshoresoftheStraitsofSundaareunsuppliedwiththosedomineeringfortresseswhichguardtheentrancestotheMediterranean,theBaltic,andthePropontis.
UnliketheDanes,theseOrientalsdonotdemandtheobsequioushomageofloweredtop-sailsfromtheendlessprocessionofshipsbeforethewind,whichforcenturiespast,bynightandbyday,havepassedbetweentheislandsofSumatraandJava,freightedwiththecostliestcargoesoftheeast.
TimeoutofmindthepiraticalproasoftheMalays,lurkingamongthelowshadedcovesandisletsofSumatra,havesalliedoutuponthevesselssailingthroughthestraits,fiercelydemandingtributeatthepointoftheirspears.
ThoughbytherepeatedbloodychastisementstheyhavereceivedatthehandsofEuropeancruisers,theaudacityofthesecorsairshasoflatebeensomewhatrepressed;yet,evenatthepresentday,weoccasionallyhearofEnglishandAmericanvessels,which,inthosewaters,havebeenremorselesslyboardedandpillaged.
Withafair,freshwind,thePequodwasnowdrawingnightothesestraits;AhabpurposingtopassthroughthemintotheJavasea,andthence,cruisingnorthwards,overwatersknowntobefrequentedhereandtherebytheSpermWhale,sweepinshorebythePhilippineIslands,andgainthefarcoastofJapan,intimeforthegreatwhalingseasonthere.
Bythesemeans,thecircumnavigatingPequodwouldsweepalmostalltheknownSpermWhalecruisinggroundsoftheworld,previoustodescendingupontheLineinthePacific;whereAhab,thougheverywhereelsefoiledinhispursuit,firmlycountedupongivingbattletoMobyDick,intheseahewasmostknowntofrequent;andataseasonwhenhemightmostreasonablybepresumedtobehauntingit.
Foralongtime,now,thecircus-runningsunhadracedwithinhisfieryring,andneedsnosustenancebutwhat’sinhimself.SoAhab.Markthis,too,inthewhaler.
Whileotherhullsareloadeddownwithalienstuff,tobetransferredtoforeignwharves;theworld-wanderingwhale-shipcarriesnocargobutherselfandcrew,theirweaponsandtheirwants.
Sheisballastedwithutilities;notaltogetherwithunusablepig-leadandkentledge.Shecarriesyears’waterinher.
ClearoldprimeNantucketwater;which,whenthreeyearsafloat,theNantucketer,inthePacific,preferstodrinkbeforethebrackishfluid,butyesterdayraftedoffincasks,fromthePeruvianorIndianstreams.
Henceitis,that,whileothershipsmayhavegonetoChinafromNewYork,andbackagain,touchingatascoreofports,thewhale-ship,inallthatinterval,maynothavesightedonegrainofsoil;hercrewhavingseennomanbutfloatingseamenlikethemselves.
Now,asmanySpermWhaleshadbeencapturedoffthewesterncoastofJava,inthenearvicinityoftheStraitsofSunda;indeed,asmostoftheground,roundabout,wasgenerallyrecognisedbythefishermenasanexcellentspotforcruising;therefore,asthePequodgainedmoreandmoreuponJavaHead,thelook-outswererepeatedlyhailed,andadmonishedtokeepwideawake.
Butthoughthegreenpalmycliffsofthelandsoonloomedonthestarboardbow,andwithdelightednostrilsthefreshcinnamonwassnuffedintheair,yetnotasinglejetwasdescried.
Almostrenouncingallthoughtoffallinginwithanygamehereabouts,theshiphadwellnighenteredthestraits,whenthecustomarycheeringcrywasheardfromaloft,anderelongaspectacleofsingularmagnificencesalutedus.
Butherebeitpremised,thatowingtotheunweariedactivitywithwhichoflatetheyhavebeenhuntedoverallfouroceans,theSpermWhales,insteadofalmostinvariablysailinginsmalldetachedcompanies,asinformertimes,arenowfrequentlymetwithinextensiveherds,sometimesembracingsogreatamultitude,thatitwouldalmostseemasifnumerousnationsofthemhadswornsolemnleagueandcovenantformutualassistanceandprotection.
TothisaggregationoftheSpermWhaleintosuchimmensecaravans,maybeimputedthecircumstancethateveninthebestcruisinggrounds,youmaynowsometimessailforweeksandmonthstogether,withoutbeinggreetedbyasinglespout;andthenbesuddenlysalutedbywhatsometimesseemsthousandsonthousands.
Broadonbothbows,atthedistanceofsometwoorthreemiles,andformingagreatsemicircle,embracingonehalfofthelevelhorizon,acontinuouschainofwhale-jetswereup-playingandsparklinginthenoon-dayair.
Unlikethestraightperpendiculartwin-jetsoftheRightWhale,which,dividingattop,falloverintwobranches,likethecleftdroopingboughsofawillow,thesingleforward-slantingspoutoftheSpermWhalepresentsathickcurledbushofwhitemist,continuallyrisingandfallingawaytoleeward.
SeenfromthePequod’sdeck,then,asshewouldriseonahighhillofthesea,thishostofvaporyspouts,individuallycurlingupintotheair,andbeheldthroughablendingatmosphereofbluishhaze,showedlikethethousandcheerfulchimneysofsomedensemetropolis,descriedofabalmyautumnalmorning,bysomehorsemanonaheight.
Asmarchingarmiesapproachinganunfriendlydefileinthemountains,acceleratetheirmarch,alleagernesstoplacethatperilouspassageintheirrear,andoncemoreexpandincomparativesecurityupontheplain;evensodidthisvastfleetofwhalesnowseemhurryingforwardthroughthestraits;graduallycontractingthewingsoftheirsemicircle,andswimmingon,inonesolid,butstillcrescenticcentre.
CrowdingallsailthePequodpressedafterthem;theharpooneershandlingtheirweapons,andloudlycheeringfromtheheadsoftheiryetsuspendedboats.
Ifthewindonlyheld,littledoubthadthey,thatchasedthroughtheseStraitsofSunda,thevasthostwouldonlydeployintotheOrientalseastowitnessthecaptureofnotafewoftheirnumber.
Andwhocouldtellwhether,inthatcongregatedcaravan,MobyDickhimselfmightnottemporarilybeswimming,liketheworshippedwhite-elephantinthecoronationprocessionoftheSiamese!
Sowithstun-sailpiledonstun-sail,wesailedalong,drivingtheseleviathansbeforeus;when,ofasudden,thevoiceofTashtegowasheard,loudlydirectingattentiontosomethinginourwake.
Itseemedformedofdetachedwhitevapors,risingandfallingsomethinglikethespoutsofthewhales;onlytheydidnotsocompletelycomeandgo;fortheyconstantlyhovered,withoutfinallydisappearing.
Levellinghisglassatthissight,Ahabquicklyrevolvedinhispivot-hole,crying,“Aloftthere,andrigwhipsandbucketstowetthesail;-Malays,sir,andafterus!”
Asiftoolonglurkingbehindtheheadlands,tillthePequodshouldfairlyhaveenteredthestraits,theserascallyAsiaticswerenowinhotpursuit,tomakeupfortheirover-cautiousdelay.
ButwhentheswiftPequod,withafreshleadingwind,washerselfinhotchase;howverykindofthesetawnyphilanthropiststoassistinspeedingherontoherownchosenpursuit,-mereriding-whipsandrowelstoher,thattheywere.
Aswithglassunderarm,Ahabto-and-fropacedthedeck;inhisforwardturnbeholdingthemonstershechased,andintheafteronethebloodthirstypirateschasinghim;somesuchfancyastheaboveseemedhis.
Andwhenheglanceduponthegreenwallsofthewaterydefileinwhichtheshipwasthensailing,andbethoughthimthatthroughthatgatelaytheroutetohisvengeance,andbeheld,howthatthroughthatsamegatehewasnowbothchasingandbeingchasedtohisdeadlyend;andnotonlythat,butaherdofremorselesswildpiratesandinhumanatheisticaldevilswereinfernallycheeringhimonwiththeircurses;-whenalltheseconceitshadpassedthroughhisbrain,Ahab’sbrowwasleftgauntandribbed,liketheblacksandbeachaftersomestormytidehadbeengnawingit,withoutbeingabletodragthefirmthingfromitsplace.
Butthoughtslikethesetroubledveryfewoftherecklesscrew;andwhen,aftersteadilydroppinganddroppingthepiratesastern,thePequodatlastshotbythevividgreenCockatooPointontheSumatraside,emergingatlastuponthebroadwatersbeyond;then,theharpooneersseemedmoretogrievethattheswiftwhaleshadbeengainingupontheship,thantorejoicethattheshiphadsovictoriouslygainedupontheMalays.
Butstilldrivingoninthewakeofthewhales,atlengththeyseemedabatingtheirspeed;graduallytheshipnearedthem;andthewindnowdyingaway,wordwaspassedtospringtotheboats.
Butnosoonerdidtheherd,bysomepresumedwonderfulinstinctoftheSpermWhale,becomenotifiedofthethreekeelsthatwereafterthem,-thoughasyetamileintheirrear,-thantheyralliedagain,andformingincloseranksandbattalions,sothattheirspoutsalllookedlikeflashinglinesofstackedbayonets,movedonwithredoubledvelocity.
Strippedtoourshirtsanddrawers,wesprangtothewhite-ash,andafterseveralhours’pullingwerealmostdisposedtorenouncethechase,whenageneralpausingcommotionamongthewhalesgaveanimatingtokensthattheywerenowatlastundertheinfluenceofthatstrangeperplexityofinertirresolution,which,whenthefishermenperceiveitinthewhale,theysayheisgallied.
Thecompactmartialcolumnsinwhichtheyhadbeenhithertorapidlyandsteadilyswimming,werenowbrokenupinonemeasurelessrout;andlikeKingPorus’elephantsintheIndianbattlewithAlexander,theyseemedgoingmadwithconsternation.
Inalldirectionsexpandinginvastirregularcircles,andaimlesslyswimminghitherandthither,bytheirshortthickspoutings,theyplainlybetrayedtheirdistractionofpanic.
Thiswasstillmorestrangelyevincedbythoseoftheirnumber,who,completelyparalysedasitwere,helplesslyfloatedlikewater-loggeddismantledshipsonthesea.
HadtheseLeviathansbeenbutaflockofsimplesheep,pursuedoverthepasturebythreefiercewolves,theycouldnotpossiblyhaveevincedsuchexcessivedismay.
Thoughbandingtogetherintensofthousands,thelion-manedbuffaloesoftheWesthavefledbeforeasolitaryhorseman.
Witness,too,allhumanbeings,howwhenherdedtogetherinthesheepfoldofatheatre’spit,theywill,attheslightestalarmoffire,rushhelter-skelterfortheoutlets,crowding,trampling,jamming,andremorselesslydashingeachothertodeath.
Best,therefore,withholdanyamazementatthestrangelygalliedwhalesbeforeus,forthereisnofollyofthebeastoftheearthwhichisnotinfinitelyoutdonebythemadnessofmen.
Thoughmanyofthewhales,ashasbeensaid,wereinviolentmotion,yetitistobeobservedthatasawholetheherdneitheradvancednorretreated,butcollectivelyremainedinoneplace.
Asiscustomaryinthosecases,theboatsatonceseparated,eachmakingforsomeonelonewhaleontheoutskirtsoftheshoal.
Inaboutthreeminutes’time,Queequeg’sharpoonwasflung;thestrickenfishdartedblindingsprayinfaces,andthenrunningawaywithuslikelight,steeredstraightfortheheartoftheherd.
Thoughsuchamovementonthepartofthewhalestruckundersuchcircumstances,isinnowiseunprecedented;andindeedisalmostalwaysmoreorlessanticipated;yetdoesitpresentoneofthemoreperilousvicissitudesofthefishery.
Forastheswiftmonsterdragsyoudeeperanddeeperintothefranticshoal,youbidadieutocircumspectlifeandonlyexistinadeliriousthrob.
As,blindanddeaf,thewhaleplungedforward,asifbysheerpowerofspeedtoridhimselfoftheironleechthathadfastenedtohim;aswethustoreawhitegashinthesea,onallsidesmenacedasweflew,bythecrazedcreaturestoandfrorushingaboutus;ourbesetboatwaslikeashipmobbedbyice-islesinatempest,andstrivingtosteerthroughcomplicatedchannelsandstraits,knowingnotatwhatmomentitmaybelockedinandcrushed.
Butnotabitdaunted,Queequegsteeredusmanfully;nowsheeringofffromthismonsterdirectlyacrossourrouteinadvance;nowedgingawayfromthat,whosecolossalflukesweresuspendedoverhead,whileallthetime,Starbuckstoodupinthebows,lanceinhand,prickingoutofourwaywhateverwhaleshecouldreachbyshortdarts,fortherewasnotimetomakelongones.
criedone,toagreatdromedarythatofasuddenrosebodilytothesurface,andforaninstantthreatenedtoswampus.“Harddownwithyourtail,there!”
criedasecondtoanother,which,closetoourgunwale,seemedcalmlycoolinghimselfwithhisownfan-likeextremity.
Twothicksquaresofwoodofequalsizearestoutlyclenchedtogether,sothattheycrosseachother’sgrainatrightangles;alineofconsiderablelengthisthenattachedtothemiddleofthisblock,andtheotherendofthelinebeinglooped,itcaninamomentbefastenedtoaharpoon.
Thefirstandsecondweresuccessfullydarted,andwesawthewhalesstaggeringlyrunningoff,fetteredbytheenormoussidelongresistanceofthetowingdrugg.
Butuponflingingthethird,intheactoftossingoverboardtheclumsywoodenblock,itcaughtunderoneoftheseatsoftheboat,andinaninstanttoreitoutandcarrieditaway,droppingtheoarsmanintheboat’sbottomastheseatslidfromunderhim.
Onbothsidestheseacameinatthewoundedplanks,butwestuffedtwoorthreedrawersandshirtsin,andsostoppedtheleaksforthetime.
Ithadbeennexttoimpossibletodartthesedrugged-harpoons,wereitnotthatasweadvancedintotheherd,ourwhale’swaygreatlydiminished;moreover,thataswewentstillfurtherandfurtherfromthecircumferenceofcommotion,thedirefuldisordersseemedwaning.
Sothatwhenatlastthejerkingharpoondrewout,andthetowingwhalesidewaysvanished;then,withthetaperingforceofhispartingmomentum,weglidedbetweentwowhalesintotheinnermostheartoftheshoal,asiffromsomemountaintorrentwehadslidintoaserenevalleylake.
Inthiscentralexpansetheseapresentedthatsmoothsatin-likesurface,calledasleek,producedbythesubtlemoisturethrownoffbythewhaleinhismorequietmoods.
Andstillinthedistracteddistancewebeheldthetumultsoftheouterconcentriccircles,andsawsuccessivepodsofwhales,eightortenineach,swiftlygoingroundandround,likemultipliedspansofhorsesinaring;andsocloselyshouldertoshoulder,thataTitaniccircus-ridermighteasilyhaveover-archedthemiddleones,andsohavegoneroundontheirbacks.
Owingtothedensityofthecrowdofreposingwhales,moreimmediatelysurroundingtheembayedaxisoftheherd,nopossiblechanceofescapewasatpresentaffordedus.
Keepingatthecentreofthelake,wewereoccasionallyvisitedbysmalltamecowsandcalves;thewomenandchildrenofthisroutedhost.
Now,inclusiveoftheoccasionalwideintervalsbetweentherevolvingoutercircles,andinclusiveofthespacesbetweenthevariouspodsinanyoneofthosecircles,theentireareaatthisjuncture,embracedbythewholemultitude,musthavecontainedatleasttwoorthreesquaremiles.
Atanyrate-thoughindeedsuchatestatsuchatimemightbedeceptive-spoutingsmightbediscoveredfromourlowboatthatseemedplayingupalmostfromtherimofthehorizon.
Imentionthiscircumstance,because,asifthecowsandcalveshadbeenpurposelylockedupinthisinnermostfold;andasifthewideextentoftheherdhadhithertopreventedthemfromlearningtheprecisecauseofitsstopping;or,possibly,beingsoyoung,unsophisticated,andeverywayinnocentandinexperienced;howeveritmayhavebeen,thesesmallerwhales-nowandthenvisitingourbecalmedboatfromthemarginofthelake-evincedawondrousfearlessnessandconfidence,orelseastillbecharmedpanicwhichitwasimpossiblenottomarvelat.
Likehouseholddogstheycamesnuffingroundus,rightuptoourgunwales,andtouchingthem;tillitalmostseemedthatsomespellhadsuddenlydomesticatedthem.
Queequegpattedtheirforeheads;Starbuckscratchedtheirbackswithhislance;butfearfuloftheconsequences,forthetimerefrainedfromdartingit.
Butfarbeneaththiswondrousworlduponthesurface,anotherandstillstrangerworldmetoureyesaswegazedovertheside.
For,suspendedinthosewateryvaults,floatedtheformsofthenursingmothersofthewhales,andthosethatbytheirenormousgirthseemedshortlytobecomemothers.
Thelake,asIhavehinted,wastoaconsiderabledepthexceedinglytransparent;andashumaninfantswhilesucklingwillcalmlyandfixedlygazeawayfromthebreast,asifleadingtwodifferentlivesatthetime;andwhileyetdrawingmortalnourishment,bestillspirituallyfeastinguponsomeunearthlyreminiscence;-evensodidtheyoungofthesewhalesseemlookinguptowardsus,butnotatus,asifwewerebutabitofGulfweedintheirnew-bornsight.
Oneoftheselittleinfants,thatfromcertainqueertokensseemedhardlyadayold,mighthavemeasuredsomefourteenfeetinlength,andsomesixfeetingirth.
Hewasalittlefrisky;thoughasyethisbodyseemedscarceyetrecoveredfromthatirksomepositionithadsolatelyoccupiedinthematernalreticule;where,tailtohead,andallreadyforthefinalspring,theunbornwhaleliesbentlikeaTartar’sbow.
Thedelicateside-fins,andthepalmsofhisflukes,stillfreshlyretainedtheplaitedcrumpledappearanceofababy’searsnewlyarrivedfromforeignparts.
“Line!line!”criedQueequeg,lookingoverthegunwale;“himfast!himfast!-Wholinehim!Whostruck?-Twowhale;onebig,onelittle!”
Aswhenthestrickenwhale,thatfromthetubhasreeledouthundredsoffathomsofrope;as,afterdeepsounding,hefloatsupagain,andshowstheslackenedcurlinglinebuoyantlyrisingandspirallingtowardstheair;sonow,StarbucksawlongcoilsoftheumbilicalcordofMadameLeviathan,bywhichtheyoungcubseemedstilltetheredtoitsdam.
Notseldomintherapidvicissitudesofthechase,thisnaturalline,withthematernalendloose,becomesentangledwiththehempenone,sothatthecubistherebytrapped.
Thespermwhale,aswithallotherspeciesoftheLeviathan,butunlikemostotherfish,breedsindifferentlyatallseasons;afteragestationwhichmayprobablybesetdownatninemonths,producingbutoneatatime;thoughinsomefewknowninstancesgivingbirthtoanEsauandJacob:-acontingencyprovidedforinsucklingbytwoteats,curiouslysituated,oneoneachsideoftheanus;butthebreaststhemselvesextendupwardsfromthat.
Whenbychancethesepreciouspartsinanursingwhalearecutbythehunter’slance,themother’spouringmilkandbloodrivallinglydiscolortheseaforrods.
Andthus,thoughsurroundedbycircleuponcircleofconsternationsandaffrights,didtheseinscrutablecreaturesatthecentrefreelyandfearlesslyindulgeinallpeacefulconcernments;yes,serenelyrevelledindallianceanddelight.
Butevenso,amidthetornadoedAtlanticofmybeing,doImyselfstillforevercentrallydisportinmutecalm;andwhileponderousplanetsofunwaningwoerevolveroundme,deepdownanddeepinlandthereIstillbathemeineternalmildnessofjoy.
Meanwhile,aswethuslayentranced,theoccasionalsuddenfranticspectaclesinthedistanceevincedtheactivityoftheotherboats,stillengagedindruggingthewhalesonthefrontierofthehost;orpossiblycarryingonthewarwithinthefirstcircle,whereabundanceofroomandsomeconvenientretreatswereaffordedthem.
Butthesightoftheenrageddruggedwhalesnowandthenblindlydartingtoandfroacrossthecircles,wasnothingtowhatatlastmetoureyes.
Itissometimesthecustomwhenfasttoawhalemorethancommonlypowerfulandalert,toseektohamstringhim,asitwere,bysunderingormaiminghisgigantictail-tendon.
Awhalewounded(asweafterwardslearned)inthispart,butnoteffectually,asitseemed,hadbrokenawayfromtheboat,carryingalongwithhimhalfoftheharpoonline;andintheextraordinaryagonyofthewound,hewasnowdashingamongtherevolvingcircleslikethelonemounteddesperadoArnold,atthebattleofSaratoga,carryingdismaywhereverhewent.
Butagonizingaswasthewoundofthiswhale,andanappallingspectacleenough,anyway;yetthepeculiarhorrorwithwhichheseemedtoinspiretherestoftheherd,wasowingtoacausewhichatfirsttheinterveningdistanceobscuredfromus.
Butatlengthweperceivedthatbyoneoftheunimaginableaccidentsofthefishery,thiswhalehadbecomeentangledintheharpoon-linethathetowed;hehadalsorunawaywiththecutting-spadeinhim;andwhilethefreeendoftheropeattachedtothatweapon,hadpermanentlycaughtinthecoilsoftheharpoon-lineroundhistail,thecutting-spadeitselfhadworkedloosefromhisflesh.
Sothattormentedtomadness,hewasnowchurningthroughthewater,violentlyflailingwithhisflexibletail,andtossingthekeenspadeabouthim,woundingandmurderinghisowncomrades.
First,thewhalesformingthemarginofourlakebegantocrowdalittle,andtumbleagainsteachother,asifliftedbyhalfspentbillowsfromafar;thenthelakeitselfbeganfaintlytoheaveandswell;thesubmarinebridal-chambersandnurseriesvanished;inmoreandmorecontractingorbitsthewhalesinthemorecentralcirclesbegantoswiminthickeningclusters.Yes,thelongcalmwasdeparting.
Alowadvancinghumwassoonheard;andthenliketothetumultuousmassesofblock-icewhenthegreatriverHudsonbreaksupinSpring,theentirehostofwhalescametumblingupontheirinnercentre,asiftopilethemselvesupinonecommonmountain.
Butbydesperateendeavorweatlastshotintoatemporaryopening;thengivingwayrapidly,andatthesametimeearnestlywatchingforanotheroutlet.
Aftermanysimilarhair-breadthescapes,weatlastswiftlyglidedintowhathadjustbeenoneoftheoutercircles,butnowcrossedbyrandomwhales,allviolentlymakingforonecentre.
ThisluckysalvationwascheaplypurchasedbythelossofQueequeg’shat,who,whilestandinginthebowstoprickthefugitivewhales,hadhishattakencleanfromhisheadbytheair-eddymadebythesuddentossingofapairofbroadflukescloseby.
Riotousanddisorderedastheuniversalcommotionnowwas,itsoonresolveditselfintowhatseemedasystematicmovement;forhavingclumpedtogetheratlastinonedensebody,theythenrenewedtheironwardflightwithaugmentedfleetness.
Furtherpursuitwasuseless;buttheboatsstilllingeredintheirwaketopickupwhatdruggedwhalesmightbedroppedastern,andlikewisetosecureonewhichFlaskhadkilledandwaited.
Thewaifisapennonedpole,twoorthreeofwhicharecarriedbyeveryboat;andwhenadditionalgameisathand,areinserteduprightintothefloatingbodyofadeadwhale,bothtomarkitsplaceonthesea,andalsoastokenofpriorpossession,shouldtheboatsofanyothershipdrawnear.
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