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him¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡lead¡£
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The¡¡soldiers¡¡had¡¡their¡¡weapons¡¡in¡¡hand¡¡as¡¡they¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡derelict¡¡crawler¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡clear¡¡to
Solon¡¡that¡¡its¡¡engines¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡running¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡layer¡¡of¡¡snow¡¡across
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amount¡¡of¡¡snow¡¡to¡¡have¡¡settled¡¡against¡¡it¡£
The¡¡white¡armoured¡¡Skyllan¡¡Interdiction¡¡soldiers¡¡began¡¡moving¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the
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beneath¡¡the¡¡behemoth¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡no¡¡accident£»¡¡nothing¡¡could¡¡tear¡¡a¡¡crawler¡¯s¡¡track¡¡loose¡¡except¡¡an
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one¡¡of¡¡its¡¡wheels¡£¡¡Splinters¡¡of¡¡barbed¡¡metal¡¡were¡¡embedded¡¡in¡¡the¡¡steel¡¡rim¡¡off¡¡the¡¡wheel¡£
He¡¡peered¡¡closely¡¡at¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡splinters¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡viciously¡¡barbed£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡winced¡¡at¡¡its¡¡cruel
design¡£¡¡Had¡¡it¡¡been¡¡embedded¡¡in¡¡a¡¡living¡¡body£»¡¡the¡¡flesh¡¡would¡¡be¡¡torn¡¡to¡¡shreds¡¡in¡¡attempting¡¡to
pull¡¡it¡¡free¡£
Solon¡¡jerked¡¡as¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡hand¡¡slapped¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shoulder£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the¡¡faceless
visor¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soldiers£»¡¡who¡¡motioned¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡move¡¡on¡£¡¡Solon¡¡nodded¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡began
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He¡¡stumbled¡¡as¡¡his¡¡foot¡¡caught¡¡on¡¡something£»¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡awkwardly¡¡onto¡¡his¡¡front¡£¡¡A¡¡soldier
helped¡¡him¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡tripped¡¡over¡£
A¡¡hand£»¡¡blue¡¡and¡¡frozen£»¡¡was¡¡protruding¡¡from¡¡the¡¡snow¡£
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grimly¡¡and¡¡motioned¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡moving¡£
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The¡¡group¡¡moved¡¡around¡¡the¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crawler£»¡¡and¡¡Solon¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡reflective¡¡plasglass¡¡of
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heavily¡¡armoured£»¡¡allowing¡¡them¡¡to¡¡push¡¡through¡¡ice£»¡¡rock¡¡and¡¡snow¡¡if¡¡necessary£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been
led¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡even¡¡a¡¡lascannon¡¡would¡¡be¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡pierce¡¡its¡¡reinforced¡¡layers¡£¡¡Whatever¡¡had
struck¡¡this¡¡crawler¡¡though¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡mockery¡¡of¡¡his¡¡teaching¡£
The¡¡soldiers¡¡moved¡¡warily¡¡around¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crawler£»¡¡and¡¡Solon¡¡froze¡¡as¡¡the¡¡sergeant¡¡raised
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One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡dropped¡¡to¡¡one¡¡knee¡¡at¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crawler¡¡and¡¡risked¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡glance
around¡¡it¡¡before¡¡giving¡¡the¡¡all¡¡clear¡¡and¡¡moving¡¡on¡£
56
They¡¡were¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡lee¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crawler£»¡¡and¡¡Solon¡¡breathed¡¡a
sigh¡¡of¡¡relief¡¡to¡¡be¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡relentless¡¡gale¡£¡¡The¡¡snow¡¡was¡¡not¡¡banked¡¡up¡¡so¡¡heavily¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡with
a¡¡flurry¡¡of¡¡hand¡¡signals£»¡¡the¡¡sergeant¡¡relayed¡¡his¡¡orders¡£
One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cargo¡¡bay¡¡doors¡¡was¡¡wide¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡warily¡¡climbed¡¡the¡¡icy¡¡ladder
up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cavernous¡¡opening¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡crouched¡¡below¡¡the¡¡lip¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cargo¡¡bay£»¡¡he¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡lasgun¡¡and
clicked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡powerful¡¡light¡¡under¡slung¡¡below¡¡the¡¡barrel¡£
Rising¡¡up¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ladder£»¡¡the¡¡soldier¡¡held¡¡his¡¡lasgun¡¡to¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡and¡¡swung¡¡the¡¡beam¡¡of¡¡his
light¡¡around¡¡within¡¡the¡¡crawler¡¯s¡¡cargo¡¡hold¡£¡¡He¡¡signalled¡¡the¡¡all¡¡clear£»¡¡and¡¡climbed¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the
interior£»¡¡disappearing¡¡from¡¡sight¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡soldiers¡¡moved¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡ladder£»¡¡Solon¡¡being¡¡herded
in¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡group¡£
Sergeant¡¡Folches¡¡and¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡men¡¡ascended¡¡quickly£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡other¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡squad
covered¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡Solon¡¡was¡¡signalled¡¡to¡¡climb¡¡up¡£
His¡¡bulky¡¡exposure¡¡suit¡¡made¡¡the¡¡climb¡¡difficult¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡breathing¡¡hard¡¡as¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡the
top¡£¡¡Sergeant¡¡Folches¡¡grabbed¡¡him¡¡under¡¡one¡¡arm¡¡and¡¡hauled¡¡him¡¡over¡¡the¡¡edge£»¡¡his¡¡pistol¡¡held¡¡at
the¡¡ready¡¡in¡¡his¡¡other¡¡hand¡£
The¡¡sergeant¡¡held¡¡up¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡for¡¡Solon¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡put¡¡and¡¡his¡¡soldiers¡¡began¡¡advancing¡¡through¡¡the
darkened¡¡cargo¡¡hold£»¡¡the¡¡focused¡¡beams¡¡of¡¡their¡¡lights¡¡swinging¡¡left¡¡and¡¡right¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡swallowed
by¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡as¡¡they¡¡penetrated¡¡deeper¡¡into¡¡the¡¡stricken¡¡crawler£»¡¡leaving¡¡Solon¡¡standing¡¡alone¡£
He¡¡turned¡¡around£»¡¡the¡¡weak¡¡lights¡¡mounted¡¡on¡¡either¡¡shoulder¡¡of¡¡his¡¡exposure¡¡suit¡¡illuminating
the¡¡area¡¡around¡¡him¡¡in¡¡their¡¡yellow¡¡glow¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lights¡¡flickered¡¡and¡¡buzzed£»¡¡and¡¡Solon¡¡hit¡¡it
with¡¡one¡¡hand¡£¡¡The¡¡flickering¡¡stopped£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡the¡¡light¡¡gave¡¡out¡¡all¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡swore¡£
Feeling¡¡exposed¡¡and¡¡alone£»¡¡he¡¡moved¡¡further¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cargo¡¡hold£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¯
lights¡£¡¡He¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡see¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡breathing¡¡filled¡¡his¡¡ears¡£¡¡He¡¡also¡¡noticed
evidence¡¡of¡¡fighting¡£¡¡Blackened¡¡scorch¡¡marks¡¡marred¡¡the¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡ore¡¡containers¡¡and¡¡severed¡¡cables
hung¡¡limp¡¡from¡¡holes¡¡blasted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡walls¡£
The¡¡massive¡¡ore¡¡containers¡¡were¡¡loaded¡¡on¡¡top¡¡of¡¡each¡¡other¡¡and¡¡tightly¡¡packed£»¡¡forming¡¡a¡¡maze
of¡¡narrow¡¡corridors¡¡within¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡hold¡£¡¡The¡¡containers¡¡disappeared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gloom¡¡above¡¡him£»¡¡and
Solon¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡rivulet¡¡of¡¡sweat¡¡ran¡¡down¡¡his¡¡spine¡£
Turning¡¡a¡¡corner£»¡¡he¡¡almost¡¡stepped¡¡on¡¡the¡¡corpse¡£¡¡It¡¡wore¡¡the¡¡uniform¡¡of¡¡a¡¡crawler¡¡orderly£»¡¡and
Solon¡¡recoiled¡¡in¡¡horror¡¡and¡¡disgust¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡died¡¡in¡¡absolute¡¡agony£»¡¡his¡¡mouth
wide¡¡in¡¡a¡¡scream£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡huge¡¡and¡¡staring£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡body¡¡frozen¡¡in¡¡a¡¡contorted¡¡death¡¡spasm¡£¡¡His
hands¡¡were¡¡twisted¡¡like¡¡claws£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡were¡¡bent¡¡beneath¡¡him¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡though¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been
writhing¡¡in¡¡agony¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡died¡£¡¡Solon¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡line¡¡of¡¡wicked¡¡splinters¡¡across¡¡his¡¡chest£»¡¡embedded¡¡in
his¡¡flesh¡£
Solon¡¡turned¡¡away£»¡¡feeling¡¡his¡¡stomach¡¡heave¡£¡¡He¡¡ripped¡¡his¡¡mask¡¡away¡¡and¡¡vomited¡¡the
contents¡¡of¡¡his¡¡stomach¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡his¡¡canteen¡¡from¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡pockets¡¡of¡¡his
exposure¡¡suit£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡a¡¡swig¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡water£»¡¡cleansing¡¡his¡¡mouth¡¡and¡¡spitting¡¡it¡¡out¡¡onto¡¡the
floor¡£
He¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡look¡¡again¡¡at¡¡the¡¡corpse¡¡as¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡away£»¡¡sucking¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡air¡¡in¡¡deep¡¡breaths¡£
It¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡had¡¡been¡¡gone¡¡for¡¡hours£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡was¡¡more¡¡likely¡¡just¡¡minutes£»¡¡and
Solon¡¡felt¡¡panic¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡within¡¡him¡£¡¡What¡¡had¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡crawler£¿¡¡What¡¡enemy¡¡was¡¡loose¡¡in¡¡the
darkness£¿¡¡And¡¡was¡¡it¡¡still¡¡here£¿
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Solon¡¯s¡¡breath¡¡was¡¡coming¡¡in¡¡shorter¡¡gasps¡£
¡°Stay¡¡here£»¡¡he¡¡says¡£¡¡To¡¡hell¡¡with¡¡that£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Solon£»¡¡deciding¡¡to¡¡find¡¡Sergeant¡¡Folches¡¡and¡¡his
soldiers¡£¡¡He¡¡might¡¡not¡¡like¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡there¡¡was¡¡still¡¡an¡¡enemy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡crawler£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡feel¡¡a¡¡lot
more¡¡comfortable¡¡with¡¡the¡¡armed¡¡soldiers¡£
Thinking¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡noise¡¡behind¡¡him£»¡¡Solon¡¡spun¡¡around£»¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡beating¡¡wildly¡£¡¡There¡¡was
nothing¡¡there¡£¡¡The¡¡weak¡¡illumination¡¡given¡¡off¡¡by¡¡his¡¡sole¡¡functioning¡¡shoulder¡¡lamp¡¡made¡¡the
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57
¡°There¡¯s¡¡nothing¡¡here£»¡±¡¡he¡¡said¡¡to¡¡himself¡£
He¡¡turned¡¡around¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡his¡¡search¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sergeant£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡lamp¡¡illuminated¡¡a¡¡pale¡¡face
less¡¡than¡¡a¡¡metre¡¡behind¡¡him¡£
Solon¡¡staggered¡¡backwards£»¡¡a¡¡strangled¡¡cry¡¡tearing¡¡from¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡and¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡lurching¡£¡¡His
sudden¡¡movement¡¡made¡¡the¡¡light¡¡from¡¡his¡¡lamp¡¡swing¡¡wildly£»¡¡making¡¡shadows¡¡dance¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of
him£»¡¡though¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡locked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡motionless¡¡figure¡£
He¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡shout£»¡¡and¡¡boots¡¡pounded¡¡across¡¡the¡¡grilled¡¡flooring£»¡¡coming¡¡closer£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡the¡¡face
stared¡¡up¡¡at¡¡him¡£
It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡child£»¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡old¡¡by¡¡his¡¡reckoning£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡pale¡¡and¡¡gaunt¡£¡¡Solon¡¡stared
at¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡in¡¡horror£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡ghosts¡¡of¡¡his¡¡past¡¡had¡¡risen¡¡to¡¡haunt¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡fraction¡¡of¡¡a¡¡second£»¡¡the
child¡¡was¡¡the¡¡spitting¡¡image¡¡of¡¡his¡¡son£»¡¡dead¡¡these¡¡last¡¡eighteen¡¡years¡£
As¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡arrived£»¡¡they¡¡shone¡¡their¡¡lights¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡child£»¡¡and¡¡Solon¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡of¡¡flesh
and¡¡blood£»¡¡not¡¡some¡¡ethereal¡¡phantom¡¡come¡¡to¡¡haunt¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡resemblance¡¡to¡¡his¡¡dead¡¡son
faded¡£¡¡The¡¡boy¡¯s¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡deeply¡¡ringed¡¡by¡¡shadow£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡recoiled¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bright¡¡lights£»
shielding¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£
The¡¡boy¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡in¡¡fright¡¡as¡¡Sergeant¡¡Folches¡¡and¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡soldiers¡¡appeared£»¡¡their¡¡weapons
levelled¡¡at¡¡the¡¡boy¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soldier¡¯s¡¡lights£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡took¡¡on¡¡a¡¡blue¡¡tinge¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡be
half¡frozen£»¡¡thought¡¡Solon¡£¡¡He¡¡let¡¡out¡¡a¡¡long¡¡breath£»¡¡and¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡force¡¡his¡¡pounding¡¡heart¡rate¡¡to
slow¡£
¡°Where¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hell¡¡did¡¡he¡¡come¡¡from£¿¡±¡¡barked¡¡Folches£»¡¡sliding¡¡the¡¡visor¡¡of¡¡his¡¡helmet¡¡up¡£
¡°No¡¡idea£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Solon£»¡¡hardly¡¡able¡¡to¡¡take¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡off¡¡the¡¡boy¡£
¡°You£»¡¡boy£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Folches¡£¡¡¡°Are¡¡you¡¡the¡¡only¡¡one¡¡here£¿¡±¡¡His¡¡face¡¡fearful£»¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡merely¡¡stared
up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡soldier¡£
¡°What¡¡happened¡¡here£»¡¡boy£¿¡±¡¡asked¡¡Folches¡¡again£»¡¡more¡¡forcefully¡£¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡backed¡¡away¡¡a¡¡step£»
looking¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡bolt¡¡at¡¡any¡¡second¡£
¡°Ease¡¡up£»¡¡sergeant£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Solon£»¡¡fumbling¡¡at¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡pockets¡£¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡out¡¡a¡¡protein¡¡pack£»
and¡¡tore¡¡off¡¡its¡¡foil¡¡seal¡£
¡°You¡¡hungry£¿¡±¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡boy£»¡¡offering¡¡the¡¡food¡£
The¡¡boy¡¡merely¡¡stared¡¡back¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡Solon¡¡took¡¡a¡¡small¡¡bite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡protein¡¡pack¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡bland
and¡¡tasteless£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡nodded¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡show¡¡of¡¡enjoying¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡lick¡¡his¡¡lips£»
and¡¡this¡¡time¡¡when¡¡Solon¡¡offered¡¡it¡¡to¡¡him¡¡he¡¡snatched¡¡it¡¡eagerly¡£
¡°You¡¡find¡¡any¡¡survivors£¿¡±¡¡Solon¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡sergeant¡¡in¡¡a¡¡low¡¡voice£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡on
the¡¡boy¡£
¡°No£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Folches¡£¡¡¡°We¡¡found¡¡some¡¡¡remains£»¡¡but¡¡nowhere¡¡near¡¡as¡¡many¡¡as¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have
expected¡£¡±
¡°Think¡¡they¡¡got¡¡away£¿¡¡Fled¡¡on¡¡foot£»¡¡or¡¡something£¿¡±¡¡asked¡¡Solon¡£
¡°I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡think¡¡so£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Folches¡£¡¡¡°Whatever¡¡hit¡¡here£»¡¡it¡¡hit¡¡hard¡¡and¡¡fast¡£¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡think¡¡anyone¡¡got
away¡£¡±
¡°What¡¡then£¿¡¡They¡¡just¡¡disappeared£¿¡¡There¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡hundred¡¡folks¡¡onboard¡£¡±
¡°They¡¡were¡¡taken£»¡±¡¡said¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡suddenly¡£¡¡Solon¡¡and¡¡Folches¡¡exchanged¡¡a¡¡look¡£
¡°Who¡¡took¡¡them£»¡¡son£¿¡±¡¡asked¡¡Solon¡£
¡°Ghosts£»¡±¡¡said¡¡the¡¡boy£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡haunted¡£
58
BOOK¡¡TWO£º
GHOSTS
¡°Hate¡¡the¡¡xenos¡¡as¡¡you¡¡hate¡¡the¡¡infidel£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡hate¡¡the¡¡non¡believer¡£¡¡Feel¡¡not¡¡mercy¡¡for¡¡them£»¡¡for
their¡¡very¡¡existence¡¡is¡¡profane¡£¡¡What¡¡right¡¡have¡¡they¡¡to¡¡live£»¡¡those¡¡that¡¡are¡¡Other£¿¡±
¡ªKor¡¡Phaeron£»¡¡Master¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Faith
59
CHAPTER¡¡SEVEN
The¡¡four¡¡Land¡¡Raiders¡¡roared¡¡across¡¡the¡¡ice£»¡¡passing¡¡the¡¡burnt¡out¡¡shells¡¡of¡¡enemy¡¡vehicles¡£¡¡The
bodies¡¡of¡¡men¡¡lay¡¡strewn¡¡around¡¡the¡¡smoking¡¡wrecks£»¡¡their¡¡blood¡¡staining¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡beneath¡¡them¡£
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