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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 20:47:45 GMT -5
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 20:48:17 GMT -5
Green Lantern [/b] Issue #5: Eye of the Beholder Pt. 2 “Even Better Then the Real Thing” Written by: John Elbe Cover by: Craig Cermak & Ramon Villalobos Edited by: Brian Burchette & Scott Kruger[/center]
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 20:49:47 GMT -5
Hal couldn’t help but feel a shiver move through his entire body, a body that wasn’t his own. The air was damp and cold on this thickly fogged morning. Heavy steel shackles squeezed his wrists and ankles, and the constricting metal seemed to amplify the cold. His movements were constrained, making it difficult to maintain his balance as the island ferry continued to move toward its destination. As the ferry moved closer he caught his first glimpse of his new ‘home’, across the San Francisco Bay.
“Playtime is over ladies.” The lead guard announced to the group over the sound of the ferry engines, “I don’t care where you were imprisoned before because it’s gonna seem like a Holiday Inn real soon. You may have been a tough guy where you came from, a real top dog. You may have just been a troublemaker. For whatever reason, you have been transferred here to serve out the rest of your sentence. Now, your new roommates are considered the most hardened criminals in the American penal system. Their resumes boast crimes ranging from kidnapping to espionage, bank robbery to murder. Here you are nothing more then new meat and those boys are hungry!”
The ferry slowed before finally docking. Hal felt a sudden tug on his restraints as the group of over ten captives began to disembark. Hal looked up toward the cell house. As a correctional officer led him off the ferry he leaned in and whispered to Hal. “Welcome home meat. Welcome to Alcatraz.”
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:00:42 GMT -5
Earlier that evening…
Panic can happen without warning. It can happen in a blink of an eye. A situation suddenly changes which causes you to react unexpectedly. A car could swerve into your lane while driving. A gunshot could go off in a crowd of people. You find yourself no longer in control of the situation. How you react determines the degree of panic you will face.
For a brief moment, Hal Jordan panicked when he realized he no longer had control of himself or the situation. But he refused to let fear consume him. He had always been fearless. He had always been in control, until now.
“I just pulled off the greatest escape and perhaps the sweetest robbery of all time. I stole Green Lanterns body.” Black Hand boasted.
Those words echoed through his mind as he struggled to come to grips with what had happened. The Black Hand had switched places with him. It hadn’t been a trick or an illusion, it was real. He was stuck in Black Hands body. But worse, his body along with his Green Lanterns ring had been taken over by the Black Hand.
Hal didn’t have time to figure out how Hand had done it, instead he closed his eyes and concentrated. He reached out in an attempt to communicate with his ring. The ring had to realize that the person who possessed it wasn’t him. But there was nothing but silence. He no longer was in contact with it.
“Such Power!” Black Hand spoke as Hal opened his eyes, “No wonder you’ve always been such a cocky bastard Hal. With this ring I can do anything! I will be a god!”
“You won’t get away with it.” Hal growled as he yanked on his restraints.
“Is that the best you can come up with?” Hand spoke as he sat across from Hal smiling, “I mean really? I would think you would be able to come up with something like ‘Hey that’s pretty good. How’d you do that?’ But no, you sit there giving me Batman type remarks.”
He was right. What could he say? He looked over where the Air Marshall’s sat toward the front of the plane. One of them was staring directly at him. Had he noticed what had happened? “Hey you! Can you come back here a moment?” Hal yelled out feeling uncomfortable with hearing Hand’s voice when he spoke.
“Don’t bother officer.” Hand waved back at him, “I think the prisoner has said enough today.” Hand then took the ring and pointed it at Hal. He concentrated for several seconds until he was able to create an emerald muzzle over Hal’s mouth. “Wow! That took a lot of energy. I will have to work on that some before I move on to the big stuff.” Hand leaned forward a bit before he spoke again, this time almost whispering, “Don’t worry Hal. I will take good care of your precious ring and your life. Hell, I might even try being a hero for a change. You on the other hand, no pun intended, won’t have much time to adjust in your new life considering you’re dying and all. I doubt trying to explain to anyone what happened is going to get you anywhere. I mean who’s going to believe you anyway right when you look like me?”
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:06:44 GMT -5
The following morning…[/i]
Hal was brought in by ferry just shortly after three a.m., handed his issued items, and then promptly was escorted to his cell. Among his issued items was a booklet that detailed the rules and regulations that are strictly enforced inside Alcatraz. He had looked through it briefly before he was ordered to turn out his light. Hal had decided his best course of action would be to follow the rules for the time being. He would treat prison like the military. Do what you’re ordered to do and not ask questions. An opportunity would present itself soon or he would find a way to make one himself.
Black Hand had been correct. No one would believe anything he said, not looking the way he did. He wasn’t sure of how much time he had. If Black Hand possessed enough will power it wouldn’t be long before he would be able to cause serious damage with the power ring. His one hope was that someone on the outside would know that something was wrong and come looking for him. Faraday, the JLA, someone would see through Black Hands ruse before it was too late. It would only be a matter of time. If Black Hand had been telling the truth about the tumor inside his brain, time was one thing he didn’t have much of. Panic had long since been replaced by anger.
If Black Hand had the ability to switch places with him he was more dangerous then he had ever been in the past. Hal found him asking the same questions over and over again? How was he able to do it? And how did he know his real name? Black Hand had to be working with someone, but whom? And if they knew he was Green Lantern who else had the information? Too many question and staring at the cell wall wasn’t going to give him the answers.
Hal laid silent in the dark refusing to give into the sense of dread that seemed to hang in the air of the musty cell.
07:00 hours
The cell house bell rang. Hal sat up from his bed and looked around his nine by five cell. It hadn’t been a nightmare, not one that he was going to wake up from anytime soon. He looked over at the folded gray uniform in front of him with his identification number on the back. He reluctantly stood up and began to prepare himself for day one of his sentence.
07:20 hours
The second morning bell rang and the cell doors slowly opened. Hal stood quietly outside his cell and faced forward. From somewhere above, an order was given to stand still until the count had been completed. A few minutes later a third bell had rang. The inmates were then escorted in a single line until they reached the mess hall otherwise known as the ‘gas chamber’.
07:30 hours
Breakfast was served and Hal and the other prisoners from his block were directed to sit in cell order along the plastic benches mounted to the floor. He sat down and looked at the plastic tray in front of him. Cold watery eggs, dried toast, potatoes, and a tin cup of orange water that was suppose to pass as juice.
“Not much to look at, but you get to eat as much as you take.” The man seated next to him said, “I suggest eating as much as you can, because lunch is usually worse.”
Hal poked at the food a bit before he began to eat. He had tasted worse in the military, but couldn’t imagine eating this for the rest of his life.
“I saw them bring you in last night. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I recognized you.” Hal stopped eating and looked up at the man. ‘You know who I am then?”
“Why yes of course I can see that you are a man that doesn’t belong here, William Hand.” The man said putting down his dull plastic fork and holding his hand out, “I sir am William Zard, but my trusted allies and great enemies call me the Wizard.”
Hal took his hand and shook it. He then put his head down and continued to eat. He recognized the name from somewhere, possibly a villain who frequently went after the JSA back in the forties? He couldn’t be certain because the man didn’t look a day over fifty. He was reluctant to start a conversation with him or anyone else at this point. He was aware that there was a political type power struggle anytime a new prisoner entered a facility. He knew that people would be sizing him up to see where he would ultimately fall. What he hadn’t been prepared for was how Black Hands reputation would be perceived inside these walls.
Hal looked up and saw several men staring at him. Some nodded while others smiled and winked. Hardened men, all criminals of some sort looked at him in what Hal could only perceive as approval or respect.
“There isn’t much time.” The Wizard said in between shoveling bites of food into his mouth, “My associates and I have been waiting a long time for someone of your abilities to come along. We would like to offer you a chance to join us.”
“Abilities like mine?” Hal asked.
“Yes and trust me there will be others who will look to make similar offers, but only I can guarantee something the others can’t, if you choose to help us.”
Another bell rang and the prisoners were ordered to sit back and remain still as several guards went through and counted the utensils on the tables. When they were certain that everything was accounted for they ordered the prisoners to leave the mess hall in the order in which they had entered.
“We will speak again soon being neighbors and all.” Hal heard the Wizard whisper as the line moved swiftly out of the hall.
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:08:04 GMT -5
Black Hand found that he was able to exert enough will power to use the ring to fly for brief periods of time. He had spent the early morning hours flying up the coast from San Francisco. He had been taking in the sights and sounds from the sky above. He had just gone through a rebirth of sorts and felt as if the whole world was his for the taking.
He found the ring had become slightly more responsive to his commands after a few hours, but the alien technology on his finger seemed to want to resist him some. Was it capable of sentient thought? Was it aware of what had happened? Regardless he would have to break it in more. It would soon enough know its new master. As he awkwardly landed along side the highway he quickly dismissed the thought as he walked closer to a sign along side Highway 1:
Welcome to Coast City: Home of Green Lantern! Pop. 171,005 and growing!
“Oh this is going to be fun!” Black Hand said as he took to the air and entered Coast City.
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:09:15 GMT -5
Hal soon discovered that in the early morning hours prisoners were separated into two groups, those assigned to work detail and those that weren’t. New prisoners usually had to wait up to a week before being given a job assignment. This meant that Hal would have to sit in his cell quietly for several hours before the noon bell rang for lunch.
Once back in his cell, Hal sat and looked through the rules and regulation booklet to see if there was anything in there that might help him. Each prisoner was issued a pencil, paper, and envelopes. Hal had thought that he could write a note to be mailed out to Bruce or Clark; something that might alert them to what had happened. He then figured that the likelihood of them ever receiving it was slim at best. In reality every letter was probably screened before ever being mailed out and such a note would never leave the facility.
Hal dropped the booklet on the cell floor as a throbbing pain in his head caused him to black out
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:11:10 GMT -5
12:00 hours
Hal awoke to the sound of the cell house bell ringing followed by the door to his cell as it slowly opened. The pain in his head was making it difficult to see straight, but he managed to head to the cell door. He attempted to stand still as an officer walked past him doing a head count. He caught the man’s eye and saw nothing but disgust on his face. Was that how it was like for these men here? Constantly looked down upon? Relentlessly reminded that the wrong decisions they have made in life would haunt them forever?
Hal glance over and saw the Wizard standing outside of his cell observing Hal. He didn’t say a word as they were ordered to the mess hall.
They sat in the same assigned spots as earlier. This time Hal was unable to eat the brown and yellow colored substances that passed for food. The throbbing in his head made it difficult to hold his head up.
“Having a headache in a place like this could prove disastrous when they invade the only safe place you can retreat to.” The Wizard spoke as Hal rubbed his forehead. “This new improved Alcatraz has a low pulsating energy beam that constantly keeps whatever various powers you might have, in check. It takes some time but you get use to it. In the meantime take this.” The Wizard slowly slipped a pill under the table to Hal.
“I don’t think it’s just a headache. I have…” Hal paused. He decided against revealing the problem he inherited from Black Hand. “I need to see the doctor.”
“Unless you are dying you will have to make an appointment. And if you think the waiting room at a regular doctors office is slow… well you better just take this anyway.”
“Thanks.” Hal slowed reached under the table and took the small white tablet. “If it works I owe you one.”
“More then you know.” The Wizard uttered as Hal reluctantly slipped the pill in his mouth.
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:12:34 GMT -5
“This is Jordan leave a message after the tone…beep…Hal it’s Chloe. I really had a good time the other day and I was hoping…well give me a call sometime. Maybe we can get together next time I am in town.”
“Oh she sounds like a tasty one.” Black Hand pondered leaning over the counter as the Hal’s voice mail continued to play.
“Jordan. Pissed off at me or not I expect to hear back from you concerning what you found out from Hand soon.”
“Must be the government guy that was leaked the info on the Power Revolution. Stupid bastard.”
“Jordan, pick up. If you’re home you are late for work. If you think you can just come and go as you please like some maverick you’ve got another thing coming mister. I want you here first thing in the morning or you can forget about ever going on another date with me or working for me for that matter.”
“Dating the boss Hal? You are a bad, bad man. Wait till she gets a load of me.” Hand grinned as he dance around his new apartment.
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:15:42 GMT -5
16:15 hours
Hal walked down the corridor past D block and down the stairs through the open door way. When he stepped outside and into the exercise yard he had to shield his eyes from the sun. He hadn’t been aware of how quickly his senses had been dulled in such a short period of time.
The excruciating pain in his head had subsided after taking the pill the Wizard gave him a few hours back. He had time to reflect and realized that it had been a bad decision to take the pill so quickly in the first place, but it had done the trick, and he was able to think more clearly. He was surprised at how easily it had become inside to give into desperation. As he looked around the yard he recognized the look inside some of the inmate’s eyes. Their spirits were broken and their eyes had a glassed over shallowness about them. It was easy to think that each and every one of them deserved the punishment they received. But it made him wonder if society was too quick to judge them all as lost causes. What if one of them could have been a classical pianist or a scientist that could have created a cure for cancer? Was the world a better place without them in it? What if these men could save lives instead of take it?
Then he came to the realization that if he was trapped here for the rest of his days how many lives would be lost? How many lives would Black Hand take in the guise of Green Lantern or worse yet, what kind of danger was his family in?
Lost in thought he didn’t hear the man come up behind him, “Day dreaming? That’s a dangerous thing to do around here.”
Hal turned to see a man standing behind him but facing the other direction. “Not much else to do here is there?” Hal responded while sizing the man up. It was easy to forget how in Hands body he wasn’t physically intimidating nor did he have his power ring. He wasn’t prepared to test his physical abilities in this body yet.
“For some of these fool that may be the case.” The man continued to speak as he faced away from Hal, “You’re not a fool are you?”
“Never been called one to my face.”
“Haha! I bet you haven’t. We don’t have much time because yard has been cut short for two weeks because of the incident that happened a few days back.”
“What incident was that?”
“There was a tussle out here. Upon its conclusion one ended up in deep lock, two in the infirmary, and one got early release. Of course he went out in a bag.”
“So they cut yard time?” Hal asked.
“Yeah. Fifteen minutes a day for an entire month. If anything goes down between now and then they cut yard time out completely for another month. So everyone one has been a little gun shy and on their best behavior these past few days. They’ll get over it soon enough. That’s why I’m here. Wizard wanted me to fill you in since a spot opened up on the rotation.”
“A spot on the rotation?”
“Yeah. You see we had a guy who was organizing a little something for a few of us and we want you to fill his spot.”
“Why? What happened to him?”
“He was the one that got carried out here in a bag.”
“What was he organizing for you?”
“Our escape plans. The good news was we were able to pull this off of his body before he got shipped out.” The man turned around and slipped Hal a folded piece of paper, “Of course this what got him killed, more then likely, but he never talked so that was good for us. Take a look at it and see what you come up with.”
“Why me?”
“Because word is you’ve escaped from every big named joint from here to Keystone City.”
Hal knew what he was referring to. In the past Black Hand had found it relatively easy to escape from whatever facility he had been incarcerated in. What Hal didn’t know was how he had managed it.
“I’ll do my best and get back with you.” Hal said as the man laughed at him.
“That’s funny. That’s exactly what the last guy said and I already told you what happened to him.
Keep what I gave you out of sight and speak to no one. We’ll be in touch with you in the morning ok champ?” The man smacked Hal on the shoulder before walking away.
Hal watched as the man walked across the yard saluting the tower guards as he passed by. He stopped in front of another man who sat on a bench with a cap pulled over his eyes.
“Message delivered boss.” He said stopping in front of the bench.
“Thank you Simon.” Wizard spoke as he pulled his cap up, “Alert the others that we are back on. If Hand is as good as he his rep we should be off this rock by tomorrow evening.”
“And if he isn’t?” Simon questioned.
“Then enjoy the sun while you have it, because we will be forced to kill again.” Wizard said before pulling the cap back over his eyes.
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:17:11 GMT -5
Hand had spent several hours inside Hal’s apartment but he grew bored when he realized how uninteresting life was as Hal Jordan. He needed some action, but the ring had stopped working earlier in the day, and he didn’t know why.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” He yelled down at the ring on his left hand. “I know you can hear me! I order you to respond!”
{Power level at .5%} The voice of Abin Sur spoke through the ring.
“Well then I order you to recharge.”
{When you need to recharge your ring, simply will your battery to appear. When it appears, place your ring to the face of the lantern and recite the oath...}
“I don’t have time for any stupid oath!” Hand yelled out. He exerted enough will and a glowing emerald lantern appeared in front of him. He held the ring up to it.
{Power level at 125%}
Hand stood there as he willed the Green Lantern costume around him. He looked in the mirror and nodded to himself in approval. It was a much darker costume then Hal wore with much of the green replaced with black.
“Let’s go to work and see if your job is as boring as your personnel life, Hal.” Hand spoke to his reflection before flying out of the open apartment window.
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:18:44 GMT -5
17:35 hours
Hal watched as a guard slowly passed by his cell. When Hal was certain that he was gone he pulled out the folded pieces of paper he had stuffed under his shirt. He unfolded them and held them up close to the light. His eyes grew wide at what he saw. There was a map that led to four different possible escape routes out of the prison. Each one ended in the same place, the shore of the island. Nothing explained how to get off of the island.
The new Alcatraz prison was built over the old facility, which had been a tourist attraction since its original closer over thirty years ago. The decision had been made shortly after the Apokolips crisis that there was a greater need for more high tech prisons throughout the country to accommodate the growing ‘meta criminal’ population. After the destruction of Belle Reve in Colorado over six months ago, a lot of the ‘super villains’ were transferred to the new and improved Alcatraz.
The San Francisco community was outraged but the original charter for the island had expired, which allowed the city to do what it wished for the island. The decision had been an easy one since the revenue from the prison would triple. Of course the Mayor and the Governor both assured that the new technology being used would keep the metas in check deeming ‘The Rock’ inescapable.
But as Hal continued to look over the plans he saw that there was a chance that they could be wrong. The question now was which of these plans was the best bet? He could see why they came to him because there was only one chance to get it right. He turned to the last page and saw the list of six prisoners including the Wizard, presumably all in on the escape plot.
The questions he found himself faced with was would he be willing to work with six incarcerated villains, allowing them to escape just so he could stop the Black Hand? How far was he willing to go to get his life back? No matter which escape route they choose it was almost certain that someone would die in the process, including guards. Was jeopardizing innocent people’s lives worth that risk? Of course he could tell them that he wouldn’t help them. Then the only death on his conscience would be his own.
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:20:42 GMT -5
The next morning…
Black Hand had used the ring to locate Ferris Aircraft and touched outside of the main gate shortly after seven a.m. He made his costume disappear before walking through the main gate.
He found a small thrill playing with the dual identities of Jordan and Green Lantern. He headed directly toward what he assumed was the main office building. He passed several people inside that either ignored him or put their heads down as he walked past them. Maybe Hal wasn’t such a hotshot after all, Hand thought as he continued to walk around for a few more minutes, before he heard a woman yell at him from an open doorway.
“Jordan! Get your ass in here now!”
It was the same woman from the voice mail, but obviously in a fouler mood. Hand strolled into her office and shut the door behind him. “Just in case we needed some privacy,” Hand said winking.
“I am giving you one chance and one chance only to explain what the hell has been wrong with you lately!” Carol Farris said as she tried to calm herself.
“What do you mean exactly?” Hand said with a smug look on his face. “I just got here.”
“You are over an hour late today! You’ve blown off work several times this past week to do god knows what. At least in the past you’ve attempted to come up with a lame excuse. And when you’ve been here you made too many mistakes for me to just ignore.” Carol sat back in her chair with a scowl on her face.
“He dated you?” Hand said curiously, “Sure wasn’t for the conversation I bet!”
“What are you talking about?”
“So he’s been blowing work off lately? I would have assumed it was because he was ‘called away on duty’ but honestly I think it’s because you are a bitch.”
Carol flew out of her chair as she reached out to slap Hand across the face. Hand was able to stop her by grabbing her wrist. He then pulled her body up against his and held her there. “Ahh but I see that the spicy side of you keeps bringing him back.”
“You are an ass, Jordan!” Carol pulled away from him and took a step back. “And you’re also fired!”
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:25:08 GMT -5
07:27 hours
First bell rang twenty-seven minutes ago. Seven minutes ago over one hundred and eighty inmates at Alcatraz waited for the second bell that signaled their cell doors would open for a head count before breakfast. That bell never came and the inmates grew restless.
Hal stood and looked out through the bars of his cell. Every inmate on cellblock D stood in front of their cell doors. Some were yelling while others banged whatever they had against the metal bars. The commotion lasted another ten minutes until things slowly simmered to a dim roar. Off in the distance Hal could hear a voice but he couldn’t quiet make it out until the person speaking moved closer.
“For those of you that don’t know who I am, my name is McGoohan, Warden McGoohan.” Hal saw him as he slowly made his way down the corridor. “And you animals will remain locked in you’re cages until I get some answers!”
“I got you’re answer right here Wa-rden Mc-Goo-Hand!” That comment from the above cellblock sent the prisoners into another commotion.
“Laugh it up ladies but no one leaves their cell today.” McGoohan shouted, “Keep it up and you can stay locked up for rest of the week.” The prisoners quieted down rather quickly at that last statement. The Warden continued to walk until he was satisfied that he had their full attention.
“Now it has come to my attention that certain someone’s fancy themselves movie stars and think that they got what it takes to beat the odds. Well this isn’t Hollywood!”
Hal watched as the Warden took a few more steps before he stopped in front of the Wizards cell.
“Forty two. That is the number of attempts made by fools who thought they could leap frog the Rock. None of them were successful for a reason. But someone thinks it might be time to gamble again. I want the names of everyone involved in this ridiculous plot and I want them now!”
Hal watched the Warden as he stared into the Wizards cell. “Warden sir!” Hal yelled out to get his attention.
Warden McGoohan slowly turned and walked over to Hal’s cell. “Ahh the new guy fancies himself a kiss ass. “Cut the sir crap and do not waste my time.”
“I have the information you’re after.” Hal said.
“Really?” McGoohan chuckled, “Let’s see, you’ve been here a little over twenty-four hours and in that time you’re going to tell me that you’ve uncovered the clandestine plot to escape from Alcatraz?”
“That’s right. I have the names of everyone involved and I am willing to cut a deal.” Hal said as he gripped the bars on his cell door.
This forced the robust man to laugh out loud. “Do I look like Monty Hall to you meat? Guards I want everything in this pig’s cell searched including him!” The warden ordered, “And if I find anything in this cell that wasn’t issued to you yesterday I will lock you up in the hole for a month. I read your file Hand and discovered a couple of interesting facts about you. One, you fancy yourself an escape artist in your own right. And two, a month in the hole may be just long enough for someone with an inoperable brain tumor.”
Hal watched as the man moved within arms length of his cell before he spoke again. “Now do you want to keep what’s in the box or go for what’s behind curtain number two?”
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Post by starlord on Apr 10, 2007 21:25:50 GMT -5
To be concluded…
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Post by mockingbird on Aug 1, 2011 18:30:01 GMT -5
To let us know what you think of this issue, please visit the letters page here!
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