UNKNOWN LAND - CHAPTER 6: THE ROAD BEYOND THE HILLS

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Chapter 6: The Road Beyond the Hills

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"The road may not speak, but every step upon it tells a story."

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The village of Ajanaku had disappeared behind them.

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At first, the three friends kept looking back.

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Again and again.

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As though the sight of their homes might somehow pull them back.

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As though the voices of their families might still reach them.

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But with every step, the distance grew.

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The mud houses became tiny dots.

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The ancient iroko tree became a shadow.

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And eventually, the village vanished completely behind the hills.

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For a moment, nobody spoke.

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The reality finally settled upon them.

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They had left home.

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Truly left.

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There was no turning back now.

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The morning sun climbed steadily into the sky as they followed the dusty road stretching endlessly ahead.

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Their bags rested heavily on their shoulders.

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Their feet kicked up small clouds of dust.

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Yet despite the weight they carried, hope continued to push them forward.

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Musa forced a smile.

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"So this is it."

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Tunde laughed softly.

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"This is it."

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Emeka adjusted his bag.

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"The beginning."

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The words sounded simple.

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Yet all three understood their meaning.

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Their lives had changed forever.

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The road wound through grasslands and scattered farms.

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Occasionally they passed travelers moving in the opposite direction.

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Some greeted them warmly.

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Others barely noticed them.

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A few looked at them with curiosity.

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Three young men.

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Three bags.

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Three dreams.

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Walking toward uncertainty.

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As midday approached, the heat became unbearable.

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Sweat soaked their clothes.

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Their feet began to ache.

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The excitement of departure slowly gave way to exhaustion.

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"How much farther?" Musa groaned.

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Emeka laughed.

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"We've only been walking a few hours."

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"It feels like three years."

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Even Tunde laughed at that.

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But deep down, they all felt the strain.

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The road was already demanding payment.

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A Yoruba proverb says:

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"The person who wants honey must be ready to endure the sting of bees."

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Success was the honey.

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The journey was the sting.

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And they were only beginning to understand that.

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By afternoon, they reached a small stream.

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The cool water sparkled beneath the sunlight.

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Without hesitation, they dropped their bags and rushed toward it.

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Musa splashed water onto his face.

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"Best water I've ever tasted."

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Tunde sat beneath a nearby tree.

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"If this is the beginning, what will the rest be like?"

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Nobody answered.

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Because nobody knew.

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That uncertainty followed them like a shadow.

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Every road ahead held questions.

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Would they find work?

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Would they find success?

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Would they even survive?

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Only time knew the answers.

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As they rested, an elderly traveler approached the stream.

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His beard was gray.

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His clothes were worn from years of travel.

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And his eyes carried the look of someone who had seen many things.

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The old man greeted them politely.

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"Good afternoon."

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"Good afternoon, sir," they replied.

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He sat nearby and drank from the stream.

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After a few moments, he looked at their bags.

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"You boys are traveling far."

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It was not a question.

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It was an observation.

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Emeka nodded.

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"Yes."

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The old man smiled knowingly.

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"Looking for a better life?"

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Again they nodded.

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The stranger chuckled.

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"Every road is filled with people searching for the same thing."

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His words sparked curiosity.

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"Did you find yours?" Musa asked.

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The old man became silent.

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For a long moment, he stared at the water.

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Finally, he answered.

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"I found something better."

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The boys exchanged confused glances.

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"What?" Tunde asked.

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The traveler smiled.

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"Myself."

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The answer puzzled them.

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The old man laughed.

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"I know. It sounds strange."

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Then he leaned forward.

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"Young men often think the journey is about money."

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He pointed toward the road.

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"But the road teaches lessons money cannot buy."

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His eyes became serious.

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"The road will reveal who among you is patient."

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He pointed at them.

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"It will reveal who is selfish."

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Another pause.

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"It will reveal who is loyal."

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The three friends listened carefully.

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The old man stood up.

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Before leaving, he shared a proverb.

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"The river tests every canoe before allowing it to cross."

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Then he continued on his journey.

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The boys watched him disappear into the distance.

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His words remained with them long after he was gone.

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By evening, dark clouds gathered overhead.

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At first, nobody paid attention.

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But soon the wind began to howl.

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The trees swayed violently.

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The air changed.

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Rain was coming.

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And it was coming fast.

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"We need shelter," Tunde said.

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The first drops began to fall.

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Within minutes, the sky opened.

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Rain crashed down with incredible force.

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Thunder shook the earth.

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Lightning flashed across the heavens.

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The three friends ran desperately.

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Searching for somewhere safe.

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Anywhere safe.

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Finally, they spotted an abandoned hut near the roadside.

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Without hesitation, they rushed inside.

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The roof leaked in several places.

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The walls were cracked.

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But it offered protection from the storm.

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Breathing heavily, they settled inside.

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Outside, nature raged.

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The rain hammered the earth.

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The wind screamed through the trees.

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For a moment, fear filled the hut.

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The storm seemed endless.

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Then Musa laughed.

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The others stared at him.

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"What is funny?"

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He shook his head.

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"Nothing."

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"Then why are you laughing?"

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Musa smiled.

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"Because we haven't even reached the Unknown Land yet."

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Tunde laughed.

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Emeka laughed.

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Soon all three were laughing.

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Not because the situation was pleasant.

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But because laughter felt stronger than fear.

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The storm eventually passed.

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Darkness followed.

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Night had arrived.

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The three friends shared the little food they carried.

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A few pieces of bread.

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Some roasted corn.

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A bottle of water.

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Not much.

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But enough.

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As they ate, silence settled around them.

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Each man was lost in thought.

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Far away, their families were probably wondering about them.

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Praying for them.

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Missing them.

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The thought brought both comfort and sadness.

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Before sleeping, Emeka opened his notebook.

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Inside, he wrote a single sentence:

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"Today we crossed the hills and left our old lives behind."

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Then he closed it.

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Outside, the moon emerged from behind the clouds.

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Its pale light illuminated the endless road ahead.

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The Unknown Land still remained far away.

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But the journey had truly begun.

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The road beyond the hills was already teaching them lessons.

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Lessons about endurance.

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Lessons about uncertainty.

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Lessons about friendship.

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And though they did not realize it yet, greater challenges were waiting ahead.

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Much greater.

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For every road has its own secrets.

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And every traveler eventually discovers them.

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As sleep slowly claimed them, another Yoruba proverb echoed in Emeka's mind:

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"The road is never too long for those who walk together."

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For now, they still walked together.

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For now, their friendship remained strong.

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For now, hope remained alive.

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But the road ahead would soon test all three.

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In ways they could never imagine.

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