ThePearlbyJohnSteinbeck"Inthetowntheytellthestoryofthegreatpearl-howitwasfoundandhowitwaslostagain.TheytellofKino,thefisherman,andofhiswife,Juana,andofthebaby,Coyotito.Andbecausethestoryhasbeentoldsooften,ithastakenrootineveryman'smind.And,aswithallretoldtalesthatareinpeople'shearts,thereareonlygoodandbadthingsandblackandwhitethingsandgoodandevilthingsandnoin-betweenanywhere.Ifthisstoryisaparable,perhapseveryonetakeshisownmeaningfromitandreadshisownlifeintoit.Inanycase,theysayinthetownthat..."IKinoawakenedintheneardark.Thestarsstillshoneandthedayhaddrawnonlyapalewashoflightinthelowerskytotheeast.Theroostershadbeencrowingforsometime,andtheearlypigswerealreadybeginningtheirceaselessturningoftwigsandbitsofwoodtoseewhetheranythingtoeathadbeenoverlooked.Outsidethebrushhouseinthetunaclump,acoveyoflittlebirdschitteredandflurriedwiththeirwings.Kino'seyesopened,andhelookedfirstatthelighteningsquarewhichwasthedoorandthenhelookedatthehangingboxwhereCoyotitoslept.AndlastheturnedhisheadtoJuana,hiswife,wholaybesidehimonthemat,herbluehead-shawloverhernoseandoverherbreastsandaroundthesmallofherback.Juana'seyeswereopentoo.Kinocouldneverrememberseeingthemclosedwhenheawakened.Herdarkeyesmadelittlereflectedstars.Shewaslookingathimasshewasalwayslookingathimwhenheawakened.Kinoheardthelittlesplashofmorningwavesonthebeach.Itwasverygood-Kinoclosedhiseyesagaintolistentohismusic.Perhapshealonedidthisandperhapsallofhispeopledidit.Hispeoplehadoncebeengreatmakersofsongssothateverythingtheysaworthoughtordidorheardbecameasong.Thatwasverylongago.Thesongsremained;Kinoknewthem,butnonewsongswereadded.Thatdoesnotmeanthattherewerenopersonalsongs.InKino'sheadtherewasasongnow,clearandsoft,andifhehadbeenabletospeakofit,hewouldhavecalledittheSongoftheFamily.Hisblanketwasoverhisnosetoprotecthimfromthedankair.Hiseyesflickedtoarustlebesidehim.ItwasJuanaarising,almostsoundlessly.OnherhardbarefeetshewenttothehangingboxwhereCoyotitoslept,andsheleanedoverandsaidalittlereassuringword.Coyotitolookedupforamomentandclosedhiseyesandsleptagain.Juanawenttothefirepitanduncoveredacoalandfanneditalivewhileshebrokelittlepiecesofbrushoverit.NowKinogotupandwrappedhisblanketabouthisheadandnoseandshoulders.Heslippedhisfeetintohissandalsandwentoutsidetowatchthedawn.Outsidethedoorhesquatteddownandgatheredtheblanketendsabouthisknees.HesawthespecksofGulfcloudsflamehighintheair.Andagoatcamenearandsniffedathimandstaredwithitscoldyelloweyes.BehindhimJuanasfireleapedintoflameandthrewspearsoflightthroughthechinksofthebrush-housewallandthrewawaveringsquareoflightoutthedoor.Alatemothblusteredintofindthefire.TheSongoftheFamilycamenowfrombehindKino.AndtherhythmofthefamilysongwasthegrindingstonewhereJuanaworkedthecornforthemorningcakes.Thedawncamequicklynow,awash,aglow,alightness,andthenanexplosionoffireasthesunaroseoutoftheGulf.Kinolookeddowntocoverhiseyesfromtheglare.Hecouldhearthepatofthecorncakesinthehouseandtherichsmellofthemonthecookingplate.Theantswerebusyontheground,bigblackoneswithshinybodies,andlittledustyquickants.KinowatchedwiththedetachmentofGodwhileadustyantfranticallytriedtoescapethesandtrapanantlionhaddugforhim.Athin,timiddogcamecloseand,atasoftwordfromKino,curledup,arrangeditstailneatlyoveritsfeet,andlaiditschindelicatelyonthepile.Itwasablackdogwithyellow-goldspotswhereitseyebrowsshouldhavebeen.Itwasamorninglikeothermorningsandyetperfectamongmornings.KinoheardthecreakoftheropewhenJuanatookCoyotitooutofhishangingboxandcleanedhimandhammockedhiminhershawlinaloopthatplacedhimclosetoherbreast.Kinocouldseethesethingswithoutlookingatthem.Juanasangsoftlyanancientsongthathadonlythreenotesandyetendlessvarietyofinterval.Andthiswaspartofthefamilysongtoo.Itwasallpart.Sometimesitrosetoanachingchordthatcaughtthethroat,sayingthisissafety,thisiswarmth,thisistheWhole.Acrossthebrushfencewereotherbrushhouses,andthesmokecamefromthemtoo,andthesoundofbreakfast,butthosewereothersongs,theirpigswereotherpigs,theirwiveswerenotJuana.Kinowasyoungandstrongandhisblackhairhungoverhisbrownforehead.Hiseyeswerewarmandfierceandbrightandhismustachewasthinandcoarse.Heloweredhisblanketfromhisnosenow,forthedarkpoisonousairwasgoneandtheyellowsunlightfellonthehouse.Nearthebrushfencetworoostersbowedandfeintedateachotherwithsquaredwingsandneckfeathersruffedout.Itwouldbeaclumsyfight.Theywerenotgamechickens.Kinowatchedthemforamoment,andthenhiseyeswentuptoaflightofwilddovestwinklinginlandtothehills.Theworldwasawakenow,andKinoaroseandwentintohisbrushhouse.AshecamethroughthedoorJuanastoodupfromtheglowingfirepit.SheputCoyotitobackinhishangingboxandthenshecombedherblackhairandbraideditintwobraidsandtiedtheendswiththingreenribbon.Kinosquattedbythefirepitandrolledahotcorn-cakeanddippeditinsauceandateit.Andhedrankalittlepulqueandthatwasbreakfast.Thatwastheonlybreakfasthehadeverknownoutsideoffeastdaysandoneincrediblefiestaoncookiesthathadnearlykilledhim.WhenKinohadfinished,Juanacamebacktothefireandateherbreakfast.Theyhadspokenonce,butthereisnotneedforspeechifitisonlyahabitanyway.Kinosighedwithsatisfaction-andthatwasconversation.Thesunwaswarmingthebrushhouse,breakingthroughitscrevicesinlongstreaks.AndoneofthestreaksfellonthehangingboxwhereCoyotitolay,andontheropesthatheldit.Itwasatinymovementthatdrewtheireyestothehangingbox.KinoandJuanafrozeintheirpositions.Downtheropethathungthebaby'sboxfromtheroofsupportascorpionmovedslowly.Hisstingingtailwasstraightoutbehindhim,buthecouldwhipitupinaflashoftime.Kino'sbreathwhistledinhisnostrilsandheopenedhismouthtostopit.Andthenthestartledlookwasgonefromhimandtherigidityfromhisbody.Inhismindanewsonghadcome,theSongofEvil,themusicoftheenemy,ofanyfoeofthefamily,asavage,secret,dangerousmelody,andunderneath,theSongoftheFamilycriedplaintively.Thescorpionmoveddelicatelydowntheropetowardthebox.UnderherbreathJuanarepeatedanancientmagictoguardagainstsuchevil,andontopofthatshemutteredaHailMarybetweenclenchedteeth.ButKinowasinmotion.Hisbodyglidedquietlyacrosstheroom,noiselesslyandsmoothly.Hishandswereinfrontofhim,palmsdown,andhiseyeswereonthescorpion.BeneathitinthehangingboxCoyotitolaughedandreacheduphishandtowardit.ItsenseddangerwhenKinowasalmostwithinreachofit.Itstopped,anditstailroseupoveritsbackinlittlejerksandthecurvedthornonthetail'sendglistened.Kinostoodperfectlystill.HecouldhearJuanawhisperingtheoldmagicagain,andhecouldheartheevilmusicoftheenemy.Hecouldnotmoveuntilthescorpionmoved,anditfeltforthesourceofthedeaththatwascomingtoit.Kino'shandwentforwardveryslowly,verysmoothly.Thethornedtailjerkedupright.AndatthatmomentthelaughingCoyotitoshooktheropeandthescorpionfell.Kino'shandleapedtocatchit,butitfellpasthisfingers,fellonthebaby'sshoulder,landedandstruck.Then,snarling,Kinohadit,haditinhisfingers,rubbingittoapasteinhishands.Hethrewitdownandbeatitintotheearthfloorwithhisfist,andCoyotitoscreamedwithpaininhisbox.ButKinobeatandstampedtheenemyuntilitwasonlyafragmentandamoistplaceinthedirt.HisteethwerebaredandfuryflaredinhiseyesandtheSongoftheEnemyroaredinhisears.ButJuanahadthebabyinherarmsnow.Shefoundthepuncturewithrednessstartingfromitalready.SheputherlipsdownoverthepunctureandsuckedhardandspatandsuckedagainwhileCoyotitoscreamed.Kinohovered;hewashelpless,hewasintheway.Thescreamsofthebabybroughttheneighbors.Outoftheirbrushhousestheypoured-Kino'sbrotherJuanTomásandhisfatwifeApoloniaandtheirfourchildrencrowdedinthedoorandblockedtheentrance,whilebehindthemotherstriedtolookin,andonesmallboycrawledamonglegstohavealook.Andthoseinfrontpassedthewordbacktothosebehind-"Scorpion.Thebabyhasbeenstung."Juanastoppedsuckingthepunctureforamoment.Thelittleholewasslightlyenlargedanditsedgeswhitenedfromthesucking,buttheredswellingextendedfartherarounditinahardlymphaticmound.Andallofthesepeopleknewaboutthescorpion.Anadultmightbeveryillfromthesting,butababycouldeasilydiefromthepoison.First,theyknew,wouldcomeswellingandfeverandtightenedthroat,andthencrampsinthestomach,andthenCoyotitomightdieifenoughofthepoisonhadgonein.Butthestingingpainofthebitewasgoingaway.Coyotito'sscreamsturnedtomoans.Kinohadwonderedoftenattheironinhispatient,fragilewife.She,whowasobedientandrespectfulandcheerfulandpatient,couldbearphysicalpainwithhardlyacry.ShecouldstandfatigueandhungeralmostbetterthanKinohimself.Inthecanoeshewaslikeastrongman.Andnowshedidamostsurprisingthing."Thedoctor,"shesaid."Gotogetthedoctor."Thewordwaspassedoutamongtheneighborswheretheystoodclose-packedinthelittleyardbehindthebrushfence.Andtheyrepeatedamongthemselves,"Juanawantsthedoctor."Awonderfulthing,amemorablething,towantthedoctor.Togethimwouldbearemarkablething.Thedoctornevercametotheclusterofbrushhouses.Whyshouldhe,whenhehadmorethanhecoulddototakecareoftherichpeoplewholivedinthestoneandplasterhousesofthetown?"Hewouldnotcome,"thepeopleintheyardsaid."Hewouldnotcome,"thepeopleinthedoorsaid,andthethoughtgotintoKino."Thedoctorwouldnotcome,"KinosaidtoJuana.Shelookedupathim,hereyesascoldastheeyesofalioness.ThiswasJuana'sfirstbaby-thiswasnearlyeverythingtherewasinJuana'sworld.AndKinosawherdeterminationandthemusicofthefamilysoundedinhisheadwithasteelytone."Thenwewillgotohim,"Juanasaid,andwithonehandshearrangedherdarkblueshawloverherheadandmadeofoneendofitaslingtoholdthemoaningbabyandmadeoftheotherendofitashadeoverhiseyestoprotecthimfromthelight.Thepeopleinthedoorpushedagainstthosebehindtoletherthrough.Kinofollowedher.Theywentoutofthegatetotheruttedpathandtheneighboursfollowedthem.Thethinghadbecomeaneighbourhoodaffair.Theymadeaquicksoft-footedprocessionintothecenterofthetown,firstJuanaandKino,andbehindthemJuanTomásandApolonia,herbigstomachjigglingwiththestrenuouspace,thenalltheneighbourswiththechildrentrottingontheflanks.Andtheyellowsunthrewtheirblackshadowsaheadofthemsothattheywalkedontheirownshadows.Theycametotheplacewherethebrushhousesstoppedandthecityofstoneandplasterbegan,thecityofharshouterwallsandinnercoolgardenswherealittlewaterplayedandthebougainvillaeacrustedthewallswithpurpleandbrick-redandwhite.Theyheardfromthesecretgardensthesingingofcagedbirdsandheardthesplashofcoolingwateronhotflagstones.Theprocessioncrossedtheblindingplazaandpassedinfrontofthechurch.Ithadgrownnow,andontheoutskirtsthehurryingnewcomerswerebeingsoftlyinformedhowthebabyhadbeenstungbyascorpion,howthefatherandmotherweretakingittothedoctor.Andthenewcomers,particularlythebeggarsfromthefrontofthechurchwhoweregreatexpertsinfinancialanalysis,lookedquicklyatJuana'soldblueskirt,sawthetearsinhershawl,appraisedthegreenribbononherbraids,readtheageofKino'sblanketandthethousandwashingsofhisclothes,andsetthemdownaspovertypeopleandwentalongtoseewhatkindofdramamightdevelop.Thefourbeggarsinfrontofthechurchkneweverythinginthetown.Theywerestudentsoftheexpressionsofyoungwomenastheywentintoconfession,andtheysawthemastheycameoutandreadthenatureofthesin.Theykneweverylittlescandalandsomeverybigcrimes.Theysleptattheirpostsintheshadowofthechurchsothatnoonecreptinforconsolationwithouttheirknowledge.Andtheyknewthedoctor.Theyknewhisignorance,hiscruelty,hisavarice,hisappetites,hissins.Theyknewhisclumsyabortionsandthelittlebrownpennieshegavesparinglyforalms.Theyhadseenhiscorpsesgointothechurch.And,sinceearlyMasswasoverandbusinesswasslow,theyfollowedtheprocession,theseendlesssearchersafterperfectknowledgeoftheirfellowmen,toseewhatthefatlazydoctorwoulddoaboutanindigentbabywithascorpionbite.Thescurryingprocessioncameatlasttothebiggateinthewallofthedoctor'shouse.Theycouldhearthesplashingwaterandthesingingofcagedbirdsandthesweepofthelongbroomsontheflagstones.Andtheycouldsmellthefryingofgoodbaconfromthedoctor'shouse.Kinohesitatedamoment.Thisdoctorwasnotofhispeople.ThisdoctorwasofaracewhichfornearlyfourhundredyearshadbeatenandstarvedandrobbedanddespisedKino'srace,andfrightenedittoo,sothattheindigenecamehumblytothedoor.Andasalwayswhenhecameneartooneofthisrace,Kinofeltweakandafraidandangryatthesametime.Rageandterrorwenttogether.Hecouldkillthedoctormoreeasilythanhecouldtalktohim,forallofthedoctor'sracespoketoallofKino'sraceasthoughtheyweresimpleanimals.AndasKinoraisedhisrighthandtotheironringknockerinthegate,rageswelledinhim,andthepoundingmusicoftheenemybeatinhisears,andhislipsdrewtightagainsthisteeth-butwithhislefthandhereachedtotakeoffhishat.Theironringpoundedagainstthegate.Kinotookoffhishatandstoodwaiting.CoyotitomoanedalittleinJuana'sarms,andshespokesoftlytohim.Theprocessioncrowdedclosethebettertoseeandhear.Afteramomentthebiggateopenedafewinches.Kinocouldseethegreencoolnessofthegardenandlittlesplashingfountainthroughtheopening.Themanwholookedoutathimwasoneofhisownrace.Kinospoketohimintheoldlanguage."Thelittleone-thefirstborn-hasbeenpoisonedbythescorpion,"Kinosaid."Herequirestheskillofthehealer."Thegateclosedalittle,andtheservantrefusedtospeakintheoldlanguage."Alittlemoment,"hesaid."Igotoinformmyself,"andheclosedthegateandslidthebolthome.Theglaringsunthrewthebunchedshadowsofthepeopleblacklyonthewhitewall.Inhischamberthedoctorsatupinhishighbed.Hehadonhisdressing-gownofredwateredsilkthathadcomefromParis,alittletightoverthechestnowifitwasbuttoned.Onhislapwasasilvertraywithasilverchocolatepotandatinycupofegg-shellchina,sodelicatethatitlookedsillywhenhelifteditwithhisbighand,lifteditwiththetipsofthumbandforefingerandspreadtheotherthreefingerswidetogetthemoutoftheway.Hiseyesrestedinpuffylittlehammocksoffleshandhismouthdroopedwithdiscontent.Hewasgrowingverystout,andhisvoicewashoarsewiththefatthatpressedonhisthroat.BesidehimonatablewasasmallOrientalgongandabowlofcigarettes.Thefurnishingsoftheroomwereheavyanddarkandgloomy.Thepictureswerereligious,eventhelargetintedphotographofhisdeadwife,who,ifMasseswilledandpaidforoutofherownestatecoulddoit,wasinHeaven.ThedoctorhadonceforashorttimebeenapartofthegreatworldandhiswholesubsequentlifewasmemoryandlongingforFrance."That,"hesaid,"wascivilizedliving"-bywhichhemeantthatonasmallincomehehadbeenabletoenjoysomeluxuryandeatinrestaurants.Hepouredhissecondcupofchocolateandcrumbledasweetbiscuitinhisfingers.Theservantfromthegatecametotheopendoorandstoodwaitingtobenoticed."Yes?"thedoctorasked."ItisalittleIndianwithababy.Hesaysascorpionstungit."Thedoctorputhiscupdowngentlybeforehelethisangerrise."HaveInothingbettertodothancureinsectbitesfor'littleIndians'?Iamadoctor,notaveterinary.""Yes,Patron,"saidtheservant."Hasheanymoney?"thedoctordemanded."No,theyneverhaveanymoney.I,Ialoneintheworldamsupposedtoworkfornothing-andIamtiredofit.Seeifhehasanymoney!"Atthegatetheservantopenedthedooratrifleandlookedoutatthewaitingpeople.Andthistimehespokeintheoldlanguage."Haveyoumoneytopayforthetreatment?"NowKinoreachedintoasecretplacesomewhereunderhisblanket.Hebroughtoutapaperfoldedmanytimes.Creasebycreaseheunfoldedit,untilatlasttherecametovieweightsmallmisshapenseedpearls,asuglyandgrayaslittleulcers,flattenedandalmostvalueless.Theservanttookthepaperandclosedthegateagain,butthistimehewasnotgonelong.Heopenedthegatejustwideenoughtopassthepaperback."Thedoctorhasgoneout,"hesaid."Hewascalledtoaseriouscase."Andheshutthegatequicklyoutofshame.Andnowawaveofshamewentoverthewholeprocession.Theymeltedaway.Thebeggarswentbacktothechurchsteps,thestragglersmovedoff,andtheneighborsdepartedsothatthepublicshamingofKinowouldnotbeintheireyes.ForalongtimeKinostoodinfrontofthegatewithJuanabesidehim.Slowlyheputhissupplianthatonhishead.Then,withoutwarning,hestruckthegateacrushingblowwithhisfist.Helookeddowninwonderathissplitknucklesandatthebloodthatfloweddownbetweenhisfingers.IIThetownlayonabroadestuary,itsoldyellowplasteredbuildingshuggingthebeach.AndonthebeachthewhiteandbluecanoesthatcamefromNayaritweredrawnup,canoespreservedforgenerationsbyahardshell-likewaterproofplasterwhosemakingwasasecretofthefishingpeople.Theywerehighandgracefulcanoeswithcurvingbowandsternandabracedsectionmidshipswhereamastcouldbesteppedtocarryasmalllateensail.Thebeachwasyellowsand,butatthewater'sedgearubbleofshellandalgaetookitsplace.Fiddlercrabsbubbledandsputteredintheirholesinthesand,andintheshallowslittlelobsterspoppedinandoutoftheirtinyhomesintherubbleandsand.Theseabottomwasrichwithcrawlingandswimmingandgrowingthings.Thebrownalgaewavedinthegentlecurrentsandthegreeneelgrassswayedandlittleseahorsesclungtoitsstems.Spottedbotete,thepoisonfish,layonthebottomintheeel-grassbeds,andthebright-colouredswimmingcrabsscamperedoverthem.Onthebeachthehungrydogsandthehungrypigsofthetownsearchedendlesslyforanydeadfishorseabirdthatmighthavefloatedinonarisingtide.Althoughthemorningwasyoung,thehazymiragewasup.TheuncertainairthatmagnifiedsomethingsandblottedoutothershungoverthewholeGulfsothatallsightswereunrealandvisioncouldnotbetrusted;sothatseaandlandhadthesharpclaritiesandthevaguenessofadream.ThusitmightbethatthepeopleoftheGulftrustthingsofthespiritandthingsoftheimagination,buttheydonottrusttheireyestoshowthemdistanceorclearoutlineoranyopticalexactness.Acrosstheestuaryfromthetownonesectionofmangrovesstoodclearandtelescopicallydefined,whileanothermangroveclumpwasahazyblack-greenblob.Partofthefarshoredisappearedintoashimmerthatlookedlikewater.Therewasnocertaintyinseeing,noproofthatwhatyousawwasthereorwasnotthere.AndthepeopleoftheGulfexpectedallplaceswerethatway,anditwasnotstrangetothem.Acopperhazehungoverthewater,andthehotmorningsunbeatonitandmadeitvibrateblindingly.Thebrushhousesofthefishingpeoplewerebackfromthebeachontheright-handsideofthetown,andthecanoesweredrawnupinfrontofthisarea.KinoandJuanacameslowlydowntothebeachandtoKino'scanoe,whichwastheonethingofvalueheownedintheworld.Itwasveryold.Kino'sgrandfatherhadbroughtitfromNayarit,andhehadgivenittoKino'sfather,andsoithadcometoKino.Itwasatoncepropertyandsourceoffood,foramanwithaboatcanguaranteeawomanthatshewilleatsomething.Itisthebulwarkagainststarvation.AndeveryyearKinorefinishedhiscanoewiththehardshell-likeplasterbythesecretmethodthathadalsocometohimfromhisfather.Nowhecametothecanoeandtouchedthebowtenderlyashealwaysdid.Helaidhisdivingrockandhisbasketandthetworopesinthesandbythecanoe.Andhefoldedhisblanketandlaiditinthebow.JuanalaidCoyotitoontheblanket,andsheplacedhershawloverhimsothatthehotsuncouldnotshineonhim.Hewasquietnow,buttheswellingonhisshoulderhadcontinueduphisneckandunderhisearandhisfacewaspuffedandfeverish.Juanawenttothewaterandwadedin.Shegatheredsomebrownseaweedandmadeaflatdamppoulticeofit,andthissheappliedtothebaby'sswollenshoulder,whichwasasgoodaremedyasanyandprobablybetterthanthedoctorcouldhavedone.Buttheremedylackedhisauthoritybecauseitwassimpleanddidn'tcostanything.ThestomachcrampshadnotcometoCoyotito.PerhapsJuanahadsuckedoutthepoisonintime,butshehadnotsuckedoutherworryoverherfirst-born.Shehadnotprayeddirectlyfortherecoveryofthebaby-shehadprayedthattheymightfindapearlwithwhichtohirethedoctortocurethebaby,forthemindsofpeopleareasunsubstantialasthemirageoftheGulf.NowKinoandJuanaslidthecanoedownthebeachtothewater,andwhenthebowfloated,Juanaclimbedin,whileKinopushedthesterninandwadedbesideituntilitfloatedlightlyandtrembledonthelittlebreakingwaves.Theninco-ordinationJuanaandKinodrovetheirdouble-bladedpaddlesintothesea,andthecanoecreasedthewaterandhissedwithspeed.Theotherpearlersweregoneoutlongsince.InafewmomentsKinocouldseethemclusteredinthehaze,ridingovertheoysterbed.Lightfiltereddownthroughthewatertothebedwherethefrillypearloysterslayfastenedtotherubblybottom,abottomstrewnwithshellsofbroken,openedoysters.ThiswasthebedthathadraisedtheKingofSpaintobeagreatpowerinEuropeinpastyears,hadhelpedtopayforhiswars,andhaddecoratedthechurchesforhissoul'ssake.Thegrayoysterswithruffleslikeskirtsontheshells,thebarnacle-crustedoysterswithlittlebitsofweedclingingtotheskirtsandsmallcrabsclimbingoverthem.Anaccidentcouldhappentotheseoysters,agrainofsandcouldlieinthefoldsofmuscleandirritatethefleshuntilinself-protectionthefleshcoatedthegrainwithalayerofsmoothcement.Butoncestarted,thefleshcontinuedtocoattheforeignbodyuntilitfellfreeinsometidalflurryoruntiltheoysterwasdestroyed.Forcenturiesmenh