‘You can do it.’ Jason said with utter conviction.
‘I don’t think I can,’ Laurie said for perhaps the third time.
‘When all’s said and done Laurie, they are only security guards.’ Jason said yet again, before he went on tongue very much in cheek, ‘Most security guards are employed for their muscle not their intelligence.’
‘There are three of them, and all of them are Sime!’ Laurie reminded his fellow Gen.
‘Exactly, and like I said – not very bright,’ Jason said with a grin.
‘Excuse me!’ Neil interrupted the two Gens to remind them, ‘I’m a renSime.’
‘I rest my case.’ Jason said cheekily.
Laurie gave a snort of laughter as he finally gave in. ‘Okay, so you win. I’ll give it a try, but you are asking me to lie to three Simes. Yes, I know they’re not Channels, but some Simes can be almost as good as a Channel when reading us. You know that.’
‘With any luck you’ll only have to face one Sime, the other two will be at different sites around the hotel,’ Jason said soothingly.
‘Why don’t you do it then?’
‘I’m not Householder trained. You are, and not just any old Household either, you were trained by Zeor.’ Jason pointed out reasonably. ‘Which means that you will stand a much better chance of getting away with it than me. Besides, at the moment you are the Sectuib in Zeor’s companion, and you said yourself that he introduced you to one of the female agents, She knows who you are and won’t be at all suspicious when you deliver a message straight from Jordan.’
‘I still don’t like it.’
‘No one asked you to like it.’
‘All right, so tell me again what I’m to say to her.’
Five minutes later Laurie exited the suite to take the elevator down to reception. He quickly spotted Lisle standing beside a large green plant in the foyer. Taking a deep breath to settle his nerves, he brought his field under strict control, as he made his way towards her.
She zlinned him and then nodded her recognition as he approached, and he returned her brief smile as he said quietly, ‘Jordan sent me down. Vidal told him that Neil Heyer might be at a place called "Gateway" taking transfer.’ He quickly gave her directions. ‘Heyer might return here afterwards of course, but we don’t know that for sure. So he wants you to go and check it out. I’m to take over your position here, till you return.’
‘I’d better go and tell the others…’ she began.
‘Not necessary. I’ve already told them.’ He said at once, knowing that his next remark would be guaranteed to touch her ego. ‘But perhaps you’d rather take one of them with you?’
Lisle looked at him almost disdainfully as she said. ‘Why? I can easily handle one renSime.’
‘I’m sure you can.’ Laurie said with a warm smile. ‘But take care.’
Lisle blushed at his words, and seconds later he watched with satisfaction as she walked across the foyer and out through the main entrance doors to disappear down the street.
As soon as she was out of sight Laurie hurried back upstairs.
***
A short while later the elevator door opened and the three men stepped out. Neil zlinned the vestibule before he and Jason disappeared through the glass entrance doors. Laurie took up his position behind the large green plant.
Jason and Neil found The Amethyst without difficulty. Neil was shown to his quarters, while Jason went to see the Captain to arrange for the Sime’s transfer.
The Gen Captain stared at Jason for several moments before he asked, ‘And when, exactly, is he due for transfer?’
‘Officially in about twenty four hours. Unofficially, as soon as you can arrange for your Channel to get down to his cabin. I believe Hajene Trent did explain his position to you?’
‘Yes he did.’
Jason saw the Captain’s expression and asked astutely, ‘So what’s wrong?’
‘Quite a lot. My astrogator is a third and could normally accommodate your renSime with no trouble at all, however…’
‘However?’ Jason pressed anxiously.
‘He’s not on board. At present he’s on Jupiter Station, we dropped him off on our way here. He’s visiting his brother.’
‘So what’s the problem?’ Jason asked, for he knew that although it was inconvenient that the Channel was not yet on board. Jupiter Station was not all that far away. Even on thruster power only, The Amethyst could be there in a very short time.
‘The problem, I’m afraid, is this. We are waiting to pick up some components requested by our Chief Engineer. They are being ferried here from our Depot on Earth and should hopefully be here in the next few hours. However, it does also mean that we will not be able to leave Moon Base for about ten hours.’ He paused and then went on, ‘We then have to call at Mars Station to take on a shipment of medical supplies for one of Earth’s colonies. It’s not a scheduled stop, but when we changed our flight plan we were asked to take on this extra cargo. I could see no reason for us to refuse at the time.’
‘And how long is your stop on Mars going to take?’ Jason demanded to know.
‘A minimum of thirty hours. I think you can see the problem?’
‘You’re not going to reach Jupiter Station in time for Neil, are you?’
‘I’m afraid not.’
‘Shen!’ Jason prowled up and down for several minutes before he turned to the Captain and said, ‘The only alternative is for me to get a Channel here to serve him before you leave.’
‘In the circumstances it would seem to be the best option. I’m sorry.’
Jason released the breath he had not known he was holding, ‘It’s not your fault. You weren’t to know the timing was so critical. Leave it with me, I’ll come up with something. In the meantime, I’d better speak to Neil before I go. He isn’t going to be pleased.’ That was an understatement if ever he’d heard one!
‘What the shen did you say!?’ The Sime stared at Jason in horror as he absorbed what he had just been told. ‘Please, Jason, tell me you’re joking?’
‘I wish I was. I also wish we’d brought Laurie with us, one of us could have stayed here with you; at least till we can get a Channel here.’
‘And which Channel is that?’
‘Vidal, of course, who else is there?’
‘Shen and shid I should never have listened to you and Laurie.’
‘And if you hadn’t listened to us? What then? What would you have done?’ Jason demanded, his own frustration rising. ‘If it had been left up to you, you’d be on your way to Mars Station by now courtesy of Zeor.’
The Sime suddenly hit the bulkhead with his open palm.
‘Stop that! You’ll hurt your tentacles, you moron! Carry on like that and it won’t matter if Vidal comes or not, you won’t be able to take transfer.’
‘You stupid Gen, you have no shenning idea how I feel.’
‘No I don’t,’ Jason admitted at once. ‘Look, all I can do is promise that I’ll get Vidal here before the freighter leaves.’ He hesitated for a moment and then said quietly, ‘If I can’t, I’ll serve you myself.’
‘You?’
‘But of course.’ He gave a brief smile as he went on, ‘No disparagement to you my friend, but you are only a renSime. I’m sure I can serve you, and at his next transfer I very much doubt if I’ll short Vidal at all.’
Neil stepped closer to stare into his eyes as he said almost tremulously, ‘You promise?’
‘Promise.’ He said at once, as he saw the open fear on Neil’s face. Like all Simes he was absolutely terrified that he might not have a source of selyn near him when his need was greatest. Jason took a deep breath and then went on. ‘Now look, Neil, the Captain is arranging for the Ship’s Medical Officer to give you something to help calm you down. Cooperate with him, okay?’
Neil gave a slightly hysterical laugh as he said, ‘You’d better tell him to lock me in here at the same time. I can’t guarantee I won’t try to jump ship.’
Jason smiled as he admitted, ‘That’s already arranged.’
Neil grimaced, ‘I rather thought it might be.’
***
Jason arrived back at the hotel but could not see Laurie in the Reception area. Lisle was obviously not yet back from her visit to Gateway, so where the shen was the Gen?
Walking across to the Desk Clerk he asked if she had seen Laurie leave the Hotel?
‘He didn’t leave the Hotel Sosu, the Sectuib came down and they both went up together. Only minutes ago.’
Shen! ‘You’re sure they went upstairs?’ He asked, and she nodded her agreement.
Seconds later the Gen alighted from the elevator on their floor, and stood for a moment undecided as to which suite they might be in. Remembering that they were all to spend the night together in his and Vidal’s suite he decided to try there first.
It was Vidal who opened the door for him, and without saying a word he turned and hurried back to where the two other men were standing facing each other like fighting cocks.
Laurie was white faced obviously holding himself under very tight control. While Jordan’s anger was palpable on the air, indeed he was almost shaking with fury.
‘You knew how I felt. How could you do it Laurence?’
‘Laurie,’ the Gen said automatically.
‘Perhaps liar would be a more appropriate name for you?’
‘That isn’t fair Sectuib, and you know it.’
‘As I said before, I am no longer your Sectuib.’
The Gen did not bother to reply, but Jason saw his fingers curl into fists as the Channel went inexorably on, ‘You have prevaricated and falsified everything you have said to me since we arrived here.’
‘That isn’t true.’
‘There, you’re lying again!’
‘Stop zlinning me!’
‘I’m not. I can tell when you’re lying to me without that.’ Jordan turned to look at the other Channel as he said, ‘And to think I thought you were my friend. I knew you disagreed with me over Neil Heyer, but I did believe that you understood my point of view, and respected it. It seems I was wrong.’
‘Now stop right there!’ Jason began.
‘Don’t interfere Jason,’ Vidal pleaded.
‘I’m sorry, Vidal, but I can’t keep my mouth shut, not over this. It’s too important.’ He took another step closer to the Sectuib. ‘Jordan, you are totally wrong about Vidal. Neither Laurie nor I said one word to him about what we intended to do. All Vidal expected us to do was to put Neil into your suite, while he tried to make you see sense.’
The Channel opened his mouth to speak. Jason held up his hand for silence as he went on. ‘And why did Laurie and I decide to help Neil get away from here? For one very simple reason, because he put himself in danger when he came here to help us. Danger not just from Gregory Carleton and his ilk, but also from you and your entourage!’
‘Jason, please...’
‘Shut up Vidal! Laurie and I are the ones who have apparently upset the Sectuib, not you. And like Laurie, I’m not prepared to just stand here and allow him to shout and criticize me about something that he quite obviously doesn’t even begin to understand.’
The Sectuib turned to stare at Jason as though he had suddenly grown two heads as he almost whispered, ‘What do I not understand?’
‘Compassion, gratitude, mercy…take your pick. All you do understand are duty, obligation and responsibility. All very fine words in their way, but when they aren’t qualified by the previous ones, they are simply empty of feeling or emotion. We’re not living in the dark ages now, you know, when renSimes like Neil Heyer were treated like lepers for something that wasn’t their fault.’
He drew a quick breath and went on before anyone else could speak. ‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it you who championed the idea that Rior and some of the Distect should reconcile with Earth and her colonies? Not least so that people like Neil Heyer might have somewhere to go, other than Rockall or Mars Station? He’s committed no crimes since he’s been either here or on Earth, Jordan. Indeed, as I said before, he’s done all in his power to help us. And what do you do? You have him hunted like a rabid dog.’
‘Hardly that,’ the Sectuib said softly, but Jason ignored him.
‘Do you know at this moment how you appear to me? As a cold unfeeling machine, and quite honestly, I can only speak for myself here and not Laurie. I can have no respect for someone who thinks like that!’ Jason found that he was shaking at the end of this tirade, and he turned slowly to face Vidal as he said quietly, ‘In case you’re interested, Neil is safe on board the freighter.’
‘Of course I’m interested.’ Vidal replied at once. ‘It was I who arranged for the freighter, after all.’
‘Yes of course you did, and I’m sorry.’
The Channel waved two tentacles to say ‘forget it.’
In the sudden silence Laurie gave a deep sigh and turned his back on the three men his shoulders sagging as he said his voice almost a whisper, ‘I think it’s best if I stay in the other suite tonight. I’m not Sime or a Channel, so no one is going to mistake me for Jordan Farris.’
He turned back to look directly at the Sectuib his face devoid of expression as he said in an equally quiet tone, ‘I suggest that you decide tonight, Hajene, if you want me to stay with you till you can return to Zeor, or if you would prefer me to leave tomorrow.’
Glancing across at the other two men he smiled humourlessly at them as he walked towards the door.
‘Laurie,’ Jason called across to him. ‘I’ll join you in a while.’
The Gen nodded his acknowledgement, as the door closed behind him.
The Sectuib stood like a silent statue in the middle of the room.
‘Vidal, I have to speak to you, alone.’ Jason murmured and led the Channel into his bedroom. Once there, he quickly explained about Neil’s predicament.
The Channel nodded his understanding of the situation. Then said, ‘I sincerely wish that you and Laurie had stayed with our original plan, and not changed it.’
‘Vidal, please. You heard what Jordan said to Laurie. Do you honestly believe you could ever have changed his point of view? He’s just plain stubborn. He doesn’t think for himself, he never has. He only accepts the doctrines that have been hammered into him by Zeor since the day he was born.’
‘You may be right in what you say, but I never even got a chance to try and change his ideas, did I?’
‘We saw a heaven sent opportunity and we took it.’ Jason admitted honestly, and then went on with a slight smile, ‘I hope you aren’t going to do a "Jordan" on me because of it?’
The Channel briefly smiled back at him, ‘Of course not.’
‘And Neil?’
‘I’ll take care of him later tonight after I’ve had a talk with Jordan. I have to try and help him to come to terms with all this. He must feel like we’ve all turned away from him, and that just isn’t true.’
‘It wasn’t Laurie’s fault you know. He merely agreed to help me with Neil. I’d never have asked him to help at all if I’d known that the Sectuib would blow up like that.’
Vidal sighed. ‘No matter how well you believe you know someone, you can never forecast how they will react to a situation.’
‘You’re right there,’ Jason agreed readily, ‘but I’d better go and join Laurie. I think he’s really upset too you know.’
‘I agree. Jordan was hard on him, especially before you arrived.’
Jason, feeling he had already made his case, kept a discreet silence.
As the Gen went to leave the bedroom his partner said quietly, ‘I don’t think Jordan expected you to take him to task quite so vehemently.’
Jason bit his lip before he said softly, ‘Someone had to. Being Sectuib doesn’t make him God.’
‘I know. Sleep well Jason, and don’t worry about Neil.’
As the Gen crossed the sitting room to the door, he saw that Jordan was still standing where they had left him, still looking shell-shocked.
Jason entered the other suite to find Laurie just emerging from the bathroom, having taken a shower.
‘Feeling better? I’m sorry I dragged you into all this. It was not my intention to cause any more trouble between you and Jordan.’
‘I’m a grown man Jason. If I hadn’t wanted to help you and Neil, then believe me, I wouldn’t have done so.’
‘I realize that. I don’t believe either of us expected the Sectuib to react as he did,’ Jason pointed out.
Laurie gave a humourless laugh. ‘You can say that again.’
‘Jordan’s attitude really surprised you. It bothered you, too, didn’t it?’ Jason said. Then without waiting for a reply he went on, ‘Speaking entirely for myself, I couldn’t put up with him.’
Laurie walked over to the table and picked up a bottle of wine. ‘Compliments of the management. Do you fancy a glass?’
‘Why not? It might help us to sleep.’
The Gen filled two glasses and pushed one towards Jason before he raised his own glass and said, ‘To Neil. A safe journey, home.’
‘I second that,’ Jason said with a smile, and then drank half the wine in his glass before he went on, ‘What are your future intentions, Laurie?’
‘That’s up to Jordan. As far as he’s concerned, I’ve let him down.’
‘I don’t accept that.’
‘Unfortunately my friend, you’re not him. On top of which, you’re really lucky, do you know that? Vidal is very much his own man and makes his own decisions. The Sectuib can’t do that. He’s tied down by years of tradition and House rules. It’s bred into him.’
Jason gave a bark of derisive laughter as he said, ‘I told him that, but it still doesn’t excuse him in my eyes. He was born with a mind of his own. He should shenning well use it!’
‘I agree. It doesn’t excuse him in my eyes either, but neither can I damn him for it.’ Seeing the confusion on his fellow Gen’s face he explained. ‘My family have been Householders for generations, and I, myself, was brought up under the aegis of Zeor to be a companion. Then, well you know what happened. Suffice it to say that it changed my whole future. As a matter of fact the whole mess was caused by my older brother, not me.’ Laurie laughed humourlessly as he went on. ‘Yet, I blamed the Sectuib for all my troubles, when it never was his fault.’
He stood for a moment before he said, ‘It was around that time that I joined the TIB. Years later, through sheer good luck and nothing more, Sam and Vidal decided to try and pair Jordan and I together for this one mission. I hardly dared to hope, that even though I was no longer in Zeor, nor ever likely to be again, I might still have an opportunity to serve Zeor through the Sectuib; even though it would only be for this one time.’
He smiled almost whimsically as he said softly, ‘It seems that Lady Luck has turned against me once more. I doubt that Jordan will forgive me this latest error in judgment, as he sees it to be.’ He sighed. ‘Yet, strange as it may seem, I regret nothing.’ After a moment or two, he drained his wine glass and placed it down on the table.
‘I won’t even try to understand your philosophy, Laurie, but I do respect you for it.’ Jason admitted quietly.
‘Thank you. Now I think I’m going to try and get a couple of hours sleep. Good night, Jason.’
‘Night, Laurie,’ Jason made his way to the shower, still mulling matters over in his mind.
***
Vidal finally got Jordan to open up to him and talk freely. The two Channels had spent the best part of the night discussing their differing ideas, and philosophies on life in general. Each man acknowledging, that they had obviously been moulded by their very different backgrounds. It was midnight before they finally lapsed into an almost companionable silence.
A short while later Vidal decided he had to go and take care of Neil, though he was undecided whether to take Jason with him or not, but then realised that the Gen required his sleep, and it would be very selfish to wake him up now.
Zlinning the Sectuib, he ascertained that he was no longer feeling so upset or despondent and was, in fact, dozing. Vidal moved silently across the room as only a Sime could, and made his way to the door opening it quietly. Only to find he was looking down the barrel of a small but very lethal particle weapon – Shen! That would teach him not to concentrate all his attention in one direction, and forget completely about everything else!
‘Back inside! Hands laced on your head!’ The harsh voice hissed the order at him. Reluctantly, Vidal was forced to obey, moving backwards into the room, followed closely by the Sime with the weapon.
‘Vidal what’s going on?’ Jordan demanded as he zlinned the intruders, and stood up.
‘Don’t move another muscle, Sectuib. Not if you value your friend’s life.’ Jordan froze in mid step.
‘You are Sectuib Farris are you not?’ A second voice demanded, and another man, this time a Gen, moved around Vidal and approached the other Channel. The Gen also had a particle weapon in his hand.
Stopping midway between the two Channels, the Gen looked from one to the other. ‘The similarity is amazing, Arvac. I can see how the mistake occurred.’
‘If you say so. Now sit down both of you. No, not over there Sectuib. I don’t want you sitting together. Yes, that’s better.’ He said, as Vidal sat on the couch, and Jordan sat on one of the chairs.
Both Channels realised that with two particle weapons levelled at them, there was little to be gained by disobeying the order.
‘How do you propose to get the two of us out of the Hotel?’ Vidal asked, with interest.
The Sime stared at him for a brief moment and then said, ‘We don’t. You aren’t necessary.’ Arvac turned to glance at the Gen as he asked, ‘Have you got it, Wyle?’
‘Yes.’ The Gen pulled what looked like a small capsule out of his pocket showing it to the Sime.
‘I’m not interesting in looking at it you idiot, just use it!’
The Gen nodded as he stepped a little closer to Vidal and suddenly broke the capsule directly under his nose, moving quickly away from him as he did so.
Vidal immediately slumped back onto the couch, unconscious.
‘What have you given him!?’ Jordan demanded, and made to move towards him.
‘Don’t move Sectuib! Not if you want him to live. He’s only unconscious for the moment, but that can soon be remedied,’ Wyle said ominously.
‘Why don’t you zlin him, and settle your mind that he’s still alive?’ The Sime suggested. ‘Wyle is going to stay with your friend until we’re clear of the Hotel, to ensure your good behaviour.’ Arvac sneered at the Channel as he went on, ‘I’m assuming I don’t have to explain in detail what will happen to him if you do anything more than walk quietly and quickly out of this hotel. Am I correct?’
Jordan nodded his head reluctantly.
Arvac looked pleased as he motioned the Channel towards the door with his weapon, and said to the Gen, ‘Give us fifteen minutes to get clear, and then follow us.’
***
It was 04.00 am and across the corridor Jason and Laurie were already wide awake. Neither of them had really been to sleep, only cat-napping on off for the last few hours. Laurie now stood up to stretch his arms over his head before he went into the bathroom and returned fully clothed.
‘How about you make us some trin, while I go over and see Jordan. I have to know if he’s made up his mind about me, and what he wants to do.’
Jason stifled a yawn as he agreed to the suggestion, and murmured, ‘Good luck,’ as the Gen left the suite.
Laurie entered the other suite quietly. He fully expected to find both Channels wide awake. If by any chance they were asleep, he did not want to disturb them.
Moving forward on the thick carpet he heard a slight moan that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Looking towards the source of the sound, he saw Vidal lying half off and half on the couch.
Rushing to his side he found that the Channel was trying to sit up. ‘Lie still. I’ll help you in a moment,’ he said as he ran to each of the bedrooms in turn, looking for Jordan, but could find no trace of him.
Back at the Channel’s side he helped the Sime to sit up on the couch as he asked, ‘Are you all right, Vidal?’ It was at times like this that he wished he could zlin.
‘I believe so,’ the Channel whispered back.
‘What the shen happened here?’
‘Two men, Sime and Gen…took Jordan.’
‘Took him? Took him where?’
‘I have no idea.’
‘How long ago?’
‘The Sime took Jordan, and the Gen remained here with me. I was just coming around when he left. Luckily, being Gen, he couldn’t tell that. He left here three minutes ago. You must have just missed him.’
Vidal tried unsuccessfully to get to his feet.
‘Don’t move, Vidal.’
‘I’m all right, we have to go after Jordan and…’
‘Just do as you’re told for once. I’m going to fetch Jason to take care of you.’ Suiting action to words Laurie raced across the corridor.
Jason looked up as he entered the room, ‘That didn’t take very long. You must have smelled the trin. I’ve just poured it out and…’
‘Never mind that now. They’ve taken the Sectuib, and Vidal requires help. Apparently his abductors only left minutes ago, I’m going after them. With any luck I may still find them.’ Without waiting for a reply, Laurie ran down the corridor to the elevator.
‘Keep in touch.’ Jason yelled from the doorway.
‘If I can,’ Laurie called back as the elevator doors closed.
Jason quickly entered the other suite to find his partner kneeling on the floor, and flew to his side. ‘Vidal what’s wrong?’ He asked, for he could see no sign of a wound.
‘They used some sort of drug on me. I have no idea what it was.’
‘How was it administered?’
‘An inhalant, in the form of a capsule,’ The Channel explained briefly, ‘It worked almost instantaneously.’
‘Let’s see if you can stand.’
‘I tried, but my legs simply give way.’
‘Do you feel like trying again? With my help?
‘All right.’ The Channel placed his hands on the Gen’s shoulders, as Jason slid his own hands around the Sime’s slim body, managing to pull him to his feet. But he still could not stand on his own, and Jason had no alternative but to lower him carefully back down onto the couch.
‘Don’t try and move again.’ He ordered, ‘I won’t be long.’ He raced back to the other suite for the trin he had made. ‘Try to drink some of this. It might help to settle your stomach.’
Jason held the cup, and the Channel managed to swallow a few mouthfuls of the hot liquid.
‘Feeling any better?’
‘I think so.’
‘Good. Now try to tell me exactly what happened? Laurie said something about one of the men taking Jordan?’
‘That’s right.’ Vidal said, then told the Gen what had transpired as well as he remembered events. Drawing to an end he looked around the room as he suddenly asked, ‘Where’s Laurie?’
‘He went after Jordan.’
‘He what? Why did you allow him to do such a crazy thing?’ The Channel demanded to know.
‘I didn’t exactly allow him to do anything.’ The Gen said at once. ‘He simply told me what had happened. Told me to come in here and help you, and then rushed off.’
Shen, he’s almost as crazy as you are!’
‘Thanks very much.’
‘You are well aware of what I mean.’ The Channel snapped back, before he went on. ‘What does he expect to do? One lone Gen against a Gen and a Sime who are both armed, and that’s not counting how many others there may be waiting for them!’
‘Calm down. He’s gone after them and that’s that. We’ll just have to hope that for once it’ll turn out all right.’
‘Huh! I wish!’ The Channel took several deep breaths before he finally said. ‘You’re right of course. There’s nothing we can do for either Jordan or Laurie; not for the moment anyway. However, there is someone else who still requires our assistance.’
‘Neil!’ Jason murmured. He felt suddenly guilty for he had forgotten all about the Sime’s plight, till Vidal had reminded him.
‘Give me a few minutes to pull myself together. I shall then require your assistance. I must get to Neil. He has waited far too long already.’
‘You don’t look well enough to get as far as the Amethyst, let alone give transfer to a renSime when you get there.’
‘Nonsense,’ the Channel replied and tried once more to stand under his own power. This time he doubled over as a wave of nausea hit him.
Jason raced to get a bowl from the bathroom, while acknowledging one very obvious but unpalatable fact. Vidal was quite obviously going nowhere for a very considerable time; least of all to give Neil transfer.
Read Chapter 15
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