“ So, she is dead ?"

The voice startled Jack. He had been sitting at the small table in the corner. Lost in thought he had not noticed the early man taking a seat.Now he looked up and it took him a second to realise who this bloke was.

"Staff serjeant-at-law Matthews, sorry, I was miles away."

Ryan Matthews laughed, took a big draught from his pint."I bet."Jack took to his pint as well, did not respond.

"will you report her missing ?"“ What the ass are you talking about ?"tar 's voice had gone icy and his American accent was more audible by now."Your married woman. Or rather St. David 's wife. That 's what she was, always will be."The big man got up and to the bar, placed an order.

Confused Jack watched him. What was going on ? What did he think of ? And how could he possibly be intimate ? He nodded as Matthews placed a pint and a whisky in straw man of him. After sitting down the man raised his own whisky.

"To Alex, her well-nigh toughness, may she have peace treaty at last."He looked directly at mariner, in his eyes.

As he was not responding he went on."I wo n't stimulate you trouble. She would not have wanted that. But"he paused, lowered his spokesperson,"Since she wo n't get a funeral the to the lowest degree we can founder her is a toast."

Jack reached for his crank."Her most temper ?"he asked and raised a brow."She did not tell me that."

Matthew laughed."I bet to tell you all the matter she might not hold told you would take Sir Thomas More than one eventide. David used to send for her that after they first met. The others soon picked up. atomic number 26 Maiden, Ice faggot ... and some not so trance ace. Especially after David died and she turned up the following day as usual."

Jacks oculus opened wider."Jacques Louis David is utter ?"She had not told him that either. She ...

Ryan nodded."Three age ago. Two days later Colonel Waters sent her home. Dishonourable discharge two sidereal day after the funeral. Vanished four days later without a trace."

secretiveness seemed to spread around the two of them like a shield. Ryan thinking of the charwoman he had known, Jack about the woman he had killed - and the thing she had not told him.

It had been some nine month earlier. In Germany a short warm fall had nearly over night turned into biting cold and glacial nights.

In the second week of this untimely wintertime seaman had found this homeless female child, fair sex. Dirty dress, USA jacket, day inner circle. A hot breakfast and an intense talk later he had made his offer.

locomotion with me, marry me for one year.

Every other charwoman had jumped at this opportunity. Not her. They had checked into a cheap hotel nearby. She had shown him her body, the tattoos, the scars. In type he wanted to seclude his go. But he had not.

He had fucked her there and then. Under the exhibitioner, hard without mercy. She had been crying - as she had her orgasm. In all these month he only saw her crying when they fucked, when she let go, enjoyed it, came.

And unlike the others she understood his muttered comment after their first roll in the hay."Let 's feed you up. I do n't want to founder you - now."“ So you are going to belt down me ?"she had said casually as she was rolling cigaret for both of them."Then I have one stipulation before I accept. I want to go back to Edinburgh, visit ... someone a last time."

They had talked a lot these hours.

Her gens was Alex MacDonald, old British soldier, now homeless person and stranded in Germany. Partly because of PTSD, partly personal reasons. Her husband - the bastard who left me - a soldier, too, military police. And he was the guy she wanted to see - one final stage fourth dimension, return her wedding band.

mariner had no rejections. He himself was drifting. After a successful career with the American English military police force he had come into some money and resign his job. He had started to travel the world. Indulging in all the things he has missed during his time with the regular army - marriage, becoming a father - he now travelled the world with next to no baggage and at his own pace.

And, his deepest and firm motivation, try the other position. Act out offense he had seen using his cognition and breeding to avoid being caught.

clip just flew by. She had been a worthy fellow traveller. With other woman he had to buy a car, find a hotel every night. Alex ... had been dissimilar. After she had regained her speciality they had travelled by bus, wagon train and even plane. Their minuscule willpower in backpacks, everyone carrying their parcel. They had slept at train station, air ports, on the beach, the casual chinchy hotel.

He grew to love her. That did not include treating her gently. He still fucked her strong, even raped her on the rare function when she refused. They had to quell at one hotel for a week till she was able to go on. She had not complained. Never. Sometimes, in the long wakeful night, listening to her deep ventilation he even suspected that she enjoyed being raped by him.

Three days ago they had reached Edinburgh. She had shown him around, places she loved, tourist attractions. They had ended up at the rook. And met stave police sergeant Matthews. She had been tense up, brisk."My husband used to let him get laid me ”, had been her account. And he had believed her.

The next day was the day. Her live on day. If she had said one word, just one Holy Scripture, he would have spared her. They could travel on, see the world, all of it.

All she had said was"Today ?"and as he nodded she smiled her typical faint little smile."Better aspect my demon then. See you at noon."

He prepared a bag. Handcuffs, ropes, a knife and two batons, the ones with a grip. All got wrapped up in towels and his surplus clothes that they would not pass water too a great deal noise.

Jack went out to lease a car, got back to the hotel and waited. Just by chance he was looking out of the window as she approached. Her move like a sleepwalker. Even with her fair wearing apparel and tomentum in this consequence she reminded him of the homeless he had picked up than the fair sex who had travelled with him. No admiration she always referred to this David as 'bastard'. If he could do this to her in - he checked his scout - four 60 minutes give or take.

She was back in dominance of herself when she entered the room. But one flavor told him that she had been crying."quick ?"This was her final stage chance. She nodded and he picked up the bag."Let 's go."

He led the way, ram towards her end.

Alex was mum, the faint smile on her sass as she watched the familiar streets go by, the countryside."Did you let him fuck you ?"he asked eventually and she looked at him."No."Was it a lie ?

"You only cry when you get fucked."She shrugged."Not today."He had the belief as if she wanted to say more but then she just shook her head, repeated"Not today."

He left it at this, turned into a humble rural area lane. After another hour they reached the blot he had chosen.

"make the bag, just a short walking from here."She followed in silence, bag over her berm, long mightily strides.

On a clearing he stopped."Put that bag down and undress."He pointed to a fallen tree diagram on the ground and sat down, looked up to her.

She smiled, looked down on him."How do you desire me ? Docile and following your instruction manual ? Putting up a fight to,"she chuckled"realise it easier for you ?"“ How do you require to go ?"His vocalisation was calm and their center locked. She bit her lip. So she was nervous after all.

"I ... ”, she looked away, got down and started to unlace her charge."I would like to proceed the shirt on. Otherwise I will be obedient, do what you want."She took of her bang, straightened again and opened her pants. Jack raised a supercilium. She had kept this old U. S. Army shirt the whole time. It was still too big for her."Why ?"“ Do I have to explain everything ? Even now ?"She stripped her pants down, the pantie as well."If you say no there is not very much I can do about it. It is just one of the concluding wishes. And I would wish another fag."

She unbuttoned the shirt, tugged it between her stage and took off the armoured combat vehicle top and bra. Both were carelessly tossed aside and she raised a brow questioningly.

diddlyshit got up, touched her. With both hands he cupped her modest mammilla, massaged them gently before he pinched both nipples. Alex closed her middle with a needlelike inlet of breath. One of the few sign of nuisance she had ever allowed herself.

"You will get a in conclusion coffin nail. Maybe more. This will read time."His finger's breadth traced the big scrape on her belly."And I will stub them out on you. Or in you ?"He chuckled a mean chuckle, watched her."Yes Sir, thank you, Sir."He smiled."You can wear the shirt, open. coat of arms on your rachis, now."

Was that relieve on her cheek ? It passed so quickly and he was not sure. As she slipped the shirt on he opened the bag, fished for the handcuffs.

Alex turned around, arms on her back, wrists close together. As he cuffed her she shuddered."Too tight ?"“ Yes."“ Good."But despite his harsh smell he brushed her long black hair over her shoulder and kissed her neck."I will form you sustain. Because I want you to sustain. The pain will be acute and I do n't want you to get away."

She nodded. It made unadulterated horse sense."Yes, Sir."Jack smiled."Alright, do you want to see what I have for you ?"He could finger her tension, sensed her licking her lip."Yes, Sir."

"Turn around, on your knees."Without a bit wavering she obeyed. Even with her handwriting cuffed on her back she managed a smooth movement. For a present moment he looked down on her. wooden leg bedcover she knelt in the grass only partly covered in the USA shirt and her long fateful whisker. His grin softened."You are beautiful."

Alex looked up in surprise. All the scars, the low pap - she had never considered herself beautiful.

Jack-tar took his meter to unpack, starting with the ropes. Two long rough hemp ropes and a roll of para-cord. He saw the fear in her eyes and touched her buttock."As I promised, I wo n't hand or strangle you. But I might want to tie you up to a tree."His flavour was casual. Next was the carbon copy knife."Such a shame there wo n't be enough time to add some mark. Your back is nearly empty."She licked her lips, gaze fixed on the bag.

"Yes, there is one to a greater extent thing. Two to be precise. It came to my mind after we met this friend of yours."

Now she looked up, in his eye."Even though you did not enjoin me. They both fucked you, am I right ?"Alex nodded, took a bass breath."And you loved it ? One dick up your tight ass, the former buried in your greedy cunt. Both hollow filled, stuffed."“ Yes, Sir ”, her spokesperson was hoarse.

"One thing I have not given you. Until today."He noticed her flying coup d'oeil around the glade and laughed. He took the last towel from his bag and throw off the billystick free."I have no design of spoiling this internal bit with inviting a stranger. But you might like it anyway. That 's why I got two of them."

"Thank you ”, Alex whispered. laborer leant over and kissed her. Her brim parted, she took role in this buss with the passion he had experienced so often. Her tongue played with his, licked his sass. With one mitt he gripped her cervix, pulled her finisher as he led the former slide between her legs.

"What did flex you on ?"he muttered as he felt her getting wet. Instead of replying she just moaned in his mouth and pressed hard against his hand."Greedy little bitch."He started to rub her clit. Another moan and she spread her legs even wider, he felt her getting turned on even more."Let 's get you ready."

Expertly he played with her button, varying from soft teasing strokes to gruelling jot. Alex closed her eyes, her strong nipples were rubbing on the material of the shirt, her juice were flowing. simply moment before she could get relieve Jack finished abruptly.

"I take it you want to be fucked ?"Panting she looked at him, her imaginativeness clouded."What would you do to get fucked now ?"he mused and reached for a baton.

For a second he hesitated, pondering how to have it away her now. And to give her time to get back down.

The cuffs would hurt her, if he placed her on her back. But he would be in no good position to touch her tits, torture her nipple when he placed her on her stomach. And kneeling was not an choice. Not now.

"On your back, broadcast your legs."

With legs still trembling she lowered herself to one English, rolled on her backrest. She winched slightly as the alloy bit in her articulatio radiocarpea and her low-toned dorsum as she tried to find a position that was sufferable at least."Now, which of your holes shall we fill first. I know you like it in the ass."Jack positioned the tip of the metal baton at her ass-hole."No lube I am afraid."And he pushed gently.

Alex moaned. He was right. She loved it but now it hurt. And Jack did not fuck her with it. He just shoved it in. Slowly, inch by inch and only a short-change bit.

"Now you have the eq of an norm shaft up your ass. Feels upright, does n't it."“ Yes, Sir"She pushed careful against it and he chuckled."Later. You will get all you want. And even more. Now it is time to fill your greedy wet cunt."

As if to prove his Holy Writ he placed his fingers between her tumefy pussy mouth and moved them. A low squelching strait made him jape."Nice and wet. This wo n't hurt."

Alex moaned again, moved and licked her lips. He had seen her do this so often. Anticipating a fuck. What a thriftlessness. Still clock time to go back. Just fuck her, torture her, untie her and keep her forever.

But the barrack inside him was stronger.

As careful as he had handled the first one he inserted the second one. Slowly, almost teasing, not hard enough to accomplish her desire. She gasped. It felt so commodity as it slid in easily, only emphasising the early one already sticking in her.

Jack stopped and she sighed, opened her eyes again.

"Did you pretermit it ?"“ Yes, Sir ”, she nodded, shifting her eubstance again to contract some system of weights of her radiocarpal joint."Then I will keep you filled. Till the end."He bent down and kissed her."Just a bit further."He felt resistance, tried a different angle and it slid in a bit more."All the way."He smiled."I know you want me to know you now. With both of them. Hard, merciless, both holes."“ Yes, please."Wanting was in every word.

"No ”. The defeated tone on her typeface made him laugh again."A variety of torture you have not expected ?"he mused, kissed her again and withdrew.

"I could blindfold you, let you lie here and just watch you."With cross legs he sat next to her, brushed the shirt back from her pap. The small nipple stood business firm and erect and he pinched both at the same time, making her wince.

"Do n't pretend you do n't like that."Rolling one hard between his finger's breadth he reached for her crotch."You are wet."“ Yes, Sir,"she murmured, pushed her articulatio coxae against his hand.

"Too wet."He stated dryly as he observed the mo truncheon move.

"Never thought I hear a guy say that ”, Alex muttered and he laughed."Try to hold it inside. If you bring home the bacon you get the first of your last smokes."

She nodded. A face of confusion on her face that turned to understanding as Jack started to play with her clit. Groaning she closed her optic. She could not help it, the thing slid slowly out. But even that felt honorable. Movement, even so slight apparent motion in one hole, stuffed in the other.

This time tar did not discontinue. Panting she came as the baton left her dripping cunt.

Unmoved jackfruit picked it up, held it to her mouth."Lick it clean."His voice hard, commanding and she opened her lip. Tasting herself on the now warm metal made her shiver.

"No pot for you. Let 's just replace this."

This time he fucked her with it. Pushing it deeper and inscrutable till he reached the point where it would go no further.

Holding it with one hand he shoved the early one a bit deeper until they were both the same length."Now it is right hand at your cervix. press it further and it will move into your womb."

Alex opened her eyes, looked at him. He nodded."That is what is going to happen to you. But ”, he smiled an iniquity smile."it will not be me who is doing this."

With care he reached around her shoulder and pulled her up. She whimpered as he carefully positioned her on her human knee, the death of the nightstick on the ground.

"Did they fuck you like this ? On your knee joint, one cock shoved in your ass, the former in your wet cunt ? Did they make you get off like this ?"Alex nodded, had to clear her throat before she was able to answer."Sometimes."

"You could try to have sex yourself now. Up and down, enjoy it. Or you can try to have it like this. How longsighted till your pegleg will give way ? An hr ? Two ? Or even less, if I touch you like this ?"

He rubbed her sensitive clit again and Alex moaned loudly."Or you can sweep up the pain. push button down, feel them slide in, all the way. Deep deep inside you."

diddley 's voice was quiet, almost spellbinding."Imagine how that would feel. Two hard things inside you, impaling you, hurting you, killing you slowly."

Alex whimpered again. She could fell her legs trembling."You can do it. select them in."diddly-shit fingers touched her body. He felt her tension.

"Or do you want me to do it. push you down ? Or get you back on you back and shove them in one by one ? Twice the infliction, the fear ?"

Their eyes met and he leant in to kiss her."Please ”, she whispered between her pegleg and he understood, placed his helping hand firmly on her shoulders.

She felt the weightiness pushing her down. Agonizing pain shot up from her cervix and she gasped. The other one just slid in farther."No, let 's shit it special for you."diddlysquat whispered, hoarse with arousal.

One handwriting still on her shoulder joint he reached for her clit."One last orgasm and I will push you down. All the way."

She licked her lips again, closed her eye. It had taken him only a myopic time to read her torso, find all the movements that pleased her. The spots that reacted to his touch modality, made her orgasm. And he had had a long clock time to experiment with them. Now he took his time, teased her, played with her body.

Involuntarily she moved her hip, felt the drive inside her, the pain.

sass wide open she moaned with pleasure and pain. It would vote out her, slowly, but in this moment it felt so good."More ”, she gasped, groaned again and winced as the annoyance flared up again.

Jacks lenient laugh at her ear, his fingers so gently rubbing her clit."You want Thomas More ?"and he pinched her clitoris, making her vellication."Let go ”, he whispered in her ear and touched her harder.

"Oh ”, she sounded almost surprised as the orgasm washed over her. For a moment Jack just admired the sight. The vibration, sweating consistency, the open mouth, the fold middle, pain and pleasure written on her human face. Then he leaned down on her with his broad weight.

Alex screamed, doubled over. The infliction was sickening. She felt something inside her founder way, tear. And Jack still pushed on. Painfully slow her consistence was lowered on the two alloy perch. He watched with fascination as they both disappeared up to the handle. She was still whimpering in pain as he lifted her up and lowered her careful on her back. She was bleeding. He had expected that, her insides were torn. What he had not expected was, that the two billy club seemed to block the flow.

He got up and left her."Do n't go."

There was hurting in her voice. And panic ?

"Just a sec."He returned with the para-cord"I promised you to hold open you filled till the end. So we have to stimulate some adjustments. That 's why I chose the ones with the handles."

He fumbled his cigarettes out of his shirt pocket, lit one and placed it between her lips."How does it feel ?"

She took a trench drag, exhaled the Mary Jane through the olfactory organ, then another one. He took the fag away and she looked at him."It hurts ... flavor ... strange."

They shared the smoke in muteness. old salt took it from her brim, it was nearly burnt down.

"This will be my last chance to do this."Irritated she looked at him. Then she screamed as he stubbed it out on her sensible clit. Instinctively she tried to get away, felt the metallic element inside her move, causing even more pain.

As if aught had happened Jack knelt between her spread pegleg. She felt his tongue on her burned clit and grunted with pain."Even when you die I like your predilection. Maybe even more."Alex was not trusted if she was meant to get a line his words. His vocalisation was so different, seemed so far away. She just laid still, tried to take a breath flat tire. That seemed to relieve the pain. For now.

As Jack straightened up there was bloodline on his back talk and chin."Now ”, he smiled."As I said, a few adjustments."Pain made her moan again as he turned the baton in her pussy that the handle was rubbing on her now sore clit.

With confident and unagitated movements he tied the para-cord around the grip, then around her low shank."And even some duration spare ”, he murmured. After a second hesitation he reached for her shoulders."Let 's make a passably catch tied to this."

In pain she whimpered as her full phase of the moon exercising weight was placed on the batons between her wooden leg."Not long, promise."

But it felt comparable timelessness. As he was finished the para-cord was twine around her neck like a choker, two strings going down over her breasts to the harness, holding everything in place.

Jack got up and admired his handwork. He had always been estimable at improvising. Suddenly he was cognizant of his severely cock in his pants. And Alex on her knee in front of him.

On the second day in that ratty hotel in Germany she had surprised him by taking in his whole cock, down her pharynx. The retentivity stirred in his mind and he moaned.

"outdoors your mouth."With one handwriting he unbuttoned his denim, with the other he reached out, grabbed her neck. Fingers tightening in her whisker he shoved his pecker down her throat. She whimpered again, tears of pain were rolling from the corners of her eyes.

Face-fucking her he looked her in the eyes. Even with all this pain sensation she was trying to give him as a lot pleasure as she could saliver was dripping from her lips.

"Fuck, Alex ”, he gasped as he shot his load and pulled her closer.

Wide eyed she looked up to him. A beseeching look in her eye. This was one of the things she hated. Being held till she felt suffocated. mariner smiled down at her, stroked her cheek. He held her longer, saw the panic creeping up before he relaxed his bag and let go.

Alex pulled back, coughed and flinched in pain. She took some late breaths, leaned heedful forward, stuck out her tongue and started to clean his cock. mortal had trained her well.

With one finger's breadth knave followed the tears that were flowing freely now."There is more to come. Get up."

Steadying her with a firm grip on her arm he helped her get up. Her legs trembled, she felt the movement inside her, destroying her even more. As More than once before she tried to ignore the infliction, but she did not succeed.

"Come on ”. Jack tucked her arm and she took one step forward. The bother was Byzantine and she screamed again, stumbled. One more small step, another one. More tears were flowing, she was panting.

"Can you finger them ?"Jack patted the two small flake outside her torso which made her groan in agony again."Does this finger good ?"He pressed the deal hard against her clit and rubbed. Alex gasped in surprise and painfulness and Jack nodded."Just a few more pace. You can do it."

His voice was soothing again and Alex stopped, leaned against him. He held her close, felt her trembling body."Just a minute ”, she murmured and he nodded. The pain in the ass must be intense. He had never been able to make her scream before. And she had never shown polarity of weakness.

"Just a few more steps, to that tree over there. You can lean on it. Time for another fag."She nodded, steadied herself."Let 's go."

mind held mellow, eyes fixed on the Tree she took one footstep after the other. Each step accompanied by a ragged, heavy breathing space. She groaned in pain, nearly a growl, bit her lip and took the last step, let herself give way to the tree trunk.

jak lit a cigarette and placed it between her lips."You have earned it."Still trembling she nodded, inhaled deeply and closed her eyes.

With a sad smiling Jack left her and strode over to his back. Two R-2 and the tongue left. He took one rope and the tongue, turned around.

Even from afar he could see that she was in pain. The motion hat caused more blood to run down her legs. All the plans he had made. She should be able to last some more hours, growing weak and in painful sensation all the time.

Slowly he made his way back. Ash had fallen on her tit and he brushed it aside. knave took the cigarette from her sass and kissed her. Even now, in pain, weakening, her kiss was passionate. Or was it desperation that made her respond like she did ?

Sometimes - in the import before she started to cry - he had thought that he could feel her desperation. A longing for ... he did not know.

Did it matter ? Now ?

Casually, still kissing her, he burned her tit with the dog end and she tensed up, drew in her breath.

"Do you want it to end ?"he murmured between their sassing and she drew her head back. He saw the pain in her optic, the pleading. Alex opened her sassing but just nodded.

"Such a ignominy. I wanted to pass the residual of the day with you."His hands wandered over her body. Not like a man killing the woman in figurehead of him but like a lover."We could have so lots fun."Taking in her appearance he chuckled."wellspring I could have."

She licked her lips, closed her eyes again. She was dying, but slowly. She knew he was right. This could go on for hours. Hours that would seem like eternity.

sea dog pulled her in his implements of war for one more recollective, firmly kiss."Maybe I love you ”, he said under his breath."I want to make love you one more time. While you are still awake but dying."

He let go of her and took the rope.

"I want to see you, experience you. I will be the last thing you see, feel."“ Yes, Sir ”, she whispered, opened her eyes again.

"Let 's cave in you some support at least."Slowly he tied her to the tree. The ropes trailed around her breast, still exposing her small tits. There was no struggle, no resistance as he tied the knot an stepped back.

"feel at you. Helpless, debile, dying. I could leave you like this. '' Her eyes widened and a panicking look appeared on her face."I want to screw you but both your jam are stuffed. One could even say 'destroyed'. What pleasance can there be for me ?"

"Please"It was just a rustling. Her back talk moved more but he could not listen a sound.

He went over and kissed her again."You have been on the streets so long and now you start to panic when I threaten to depart you alone ?"he whispered in her ear, starting to unbutton his pants.

His heavy cock brushed against her severely abdomen. She was filling up with bloodline. Even slower he reached for his knife."Just finding the right field spot."Pre-cum left a small smear on her skin as he withdrew.

He looked deeply in her oculus as he placed the tip of the brand on that blot. A faint grin appeared on her lips again as she felt it prick her tegument."Thank you ”, Alex mouthed wordlessly and her gaze seemed to go right through him."Fast and hard, just as you like it."And he drove the knife home.

Her head tilted back, she grunted in excruciation. Jack-tar probed with the knife, widened the entry wound. stemma was rushing out. to a greater extent than the had expected."Just a bit more ”, he hissed through clenched teeth."Now I can fuck you."He pulled the knife out, let it come in the grass. And he slid his rooster in the wound.

It felt Weird ... slippery, warm, next to no resistance. His cock brushed one of the batons and he moaned.

Alex tossed around in botheration, leaned against the ropes. Panting and groaning Jack fucked her. Even in his frenzy he felt her getting weaker, her front stopping.

"I love you ”. The whispered words reached his wit without word of advice, sent s shiver down his spine. In return he moaned louder, fucked her harder.

Alex top dog rolled to one side, rested on her shoulder joint. The green eyes were open, staring unseeing in the distance.

With a grunt Jack climaxed, shot his payload deep interior into her dying consistency. Panting he stood there, leaned against her. The infliction must be horrible but she was silent, did not move. Then the faint smile - Sad, he realized, that was what it had been - appeared. It looked nearly happy, content. Her sassing moved again but he did not becharm the words. He held her closing. close up that he could feel her die, that she could feel him.

Eventually her lid fluttered, closed. He kissed the crying on her cheeks, withdrew only as he felt that her heart had stopped.

Alex was dead.

"Alex MacDonald."Jack raised his Methedrine for a unsounded military greeting."I am sure she found peace at last."“ Alex MacDonald"Ryan echoed and their Methedrine clinked, they drank in silence.

She was running. She ran when she was raging, when she was sad, unconnected, hurt. But now ... she was not only running. She was running to him.

He was waiting with his arms full open and she flew in his embrace. Tears were flowing as they kissed."I was waiting for you ”, he whispered hoarsely.

"I have missed you, you bastard. ”