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Ancient Children	By : Meirav Category: Hellsing > General Views: 2388 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Ancient Children
- 2-2
- 1
- 2
Disclaimer: I do not own X. Katherina and
Nicola are mine.

Thanks: to my beta Kitsunia.

************************************************************

1

07:10 on Sir
Hellsing�s private quarter�s balcony. In her thick soft green and dark red
checkered tweed robe, Sir Integra stood with a mug of coffee in hand, the first
cigar of the day between her lips, enjoying the still slightly chilly air of
the morning.

It was a rare experience for Integra to wake up at
such an hour; usually this was the time for her to go to sleep. The faint sun
broke through the thin layers of soft cotton-like clouds above, casting thin
films of bright golden light heavenwards. The cool breeze carried scents of
recently baked bread, freshly lit fragrant pipe tobacco and a slight odor of
petrol carried from the back of Hellsing mansion where the armored cars
refueled for the new day�s activities.

Integra often wondered if the mansion�s somewhat aloof
location helped preserving its unique country-side atmosphere so that since her
ancestor�s time it remained locked in its time-pocket of unchanging sights and
smells.

The buzzing, restless city of London was still
a few kilometers from the core of the capital and so the mansion remained
pretty much as it was for years and years. She did not complain about it, she
never will.

Leaning on the thick black iron bar, heavy with
engraving yet stylish in it�s ominous gothic air, the blackened metal felt icy
from the night�s cool air.

She flicked ash from her cigar onto the little crystal
ashtray she lodged atop a small iron gargoyle�s head. She stared at the ashtray
for a while, a sheepish smile tugging at her ironic lips. Her father would have
hated her smoking if only for her nasty habit of placing her chosen ashtrays as
closely to her as possible, too often at the risk of them slipping from their
unbalanced position. If he�d see her great grandmother�s precious Hungarian
crystal ashtray (it wasn�t always an ashtray, it was once a decent miniature
cup until Integra grew into teen rebellion�s age) he�d have a fit.

She let her gaze wonder from the ashtray to the
charming English garden below, Walter�s pride and joy (the man cried
once when a passing dog urinated on one of the gentle daffodils, killing the
fragile seedling), and onto the carriageway.

Now that was a pattern she must have inherited from
her ancestors, to always keep an eye on the entrance way to her territory. Her
balcony gave a breathtaking view of the more peaceful part of Hellsing Mansion, but it
was also one of the key watch posts on the landing. As if picked by a cat, the
balcony overlooked the entranceway from the great black iron gate to the heavy
oak doors of the building�s entrance. Integra had such a perfect view that she
could tell Walter when one of the petunia vases by the main door fell off it�s
aging metal post and shattered to the floor, along with a full report of the
extent of the damage.

Integra would spend about fifteen minutes of her day�s
schedule in this strategic post, before bedtime and at awakening, as if these
ceremonies alone could keep the mansion in safety from invaders and evildoers.

This morning her fifteen minutes were not futile; she
spotted the teenage girl walking straight into the mansion as if on a rampage.
Following the bright red haired youth with her catlike eyes she sighed
inwardly.

Oh well, she shrugged, this was such a perfect morning
and so it just had to come to an end did it not? After all, they were in
the middle of a �dry spell� monster and vampire wise, so good old Murphy brought
them this girl with whatever news she bore to pierce through the dazed calm
resting on the mansion like thick fog for the last few days.

Turning sharply, her robe flapping theatrically behind
her, Integra gulped the rest of her bitter coffee down, but not before she
stubbed out her cigar, and began preparing for the day.

Her reflection in the mirror glared at her through
sleep-disrupted hair. What was it this time? What did you do, you naughty
little girl, Integra?

She shrugged at her reflection, brushing her teeth
with short stabbing thrusts as if that would fight her teeth�s slowly yellowing
nicotine damage. Toweling the water from her face, with her nose still deep in
the cloud-like softness of her towel, Integra pondered her reflection�s berating
again.

Surely, talking to someone does not count as
anything naughty, does it?

The recent days� lack of activity was driving her
vampire henchman crazy for only he, the gun-mad sniggering little git she
thought Alucard to be could be bored out of his wits with peace and calm.

Alucard oozed himself through her office�s door late noon in search of a master fit to
irritate or at least a mission to channel his aggression (or was it sadism? She
sniggered into her towel) through.

When he found none of the two he plopped down into one
of her large leather sofas, his long heavily booted legs spread, his extensive
arms cast off and dangling at the sides of the large chair, his head cocked
sideways as if his neck gave in under the mass of unruly poking black hair and
powerful fangs.

Over the rim of her delicate fine china teacup she
watched Alucard disappear behind her slowly steam covered spectacles� lenses.
�What is it Alucard,� she hummed into rich dark brown earl grey.

Bright white teeth flashed before her from the shadows
of his clothing�s folds and the darkness his wide brimmed hat cast on his face.
He didn�t answer her.

�I always wondered; if I�ll stare at you long enough
will you disappear with only your smile left behind?� She chuckled as much as
an Iron Lady of her kind can chuckle.

�Do you see bright and dark purple stripes all over
me,� came a growl from the heap of darkness on her chair.

�Do you see me in a bright blue dress with a cute
little white apron? I was just wondering, that is all��

��I can do it��

�How exciting.� She didn�t let her voice reveal how childishly
excited she really was at this notion, she wrapped the child with irony from
hell�s icy halls.

The smile remained before her though the long thin
legs, the drooping hands, and the violent ret coat and hat all disappeared from
the chair.

Integra removed her heavily steamed glasses and
cleaned them on her dark green suit�s jacket to better view the empty chair
before her. When she realized the Cheshire cat trick was working fully, she
released a youthful, light-aired laughter into the office�s stuffy air. Within
a minute her fingers clamped on her lips, shutting off this display of�oh I
don�t know, something light and young and very not Integra Firebrook Wingate
Hellsing.

Alucard returned, giving his master an odd look.
Before she closed the iron cast shell around her and withdrew into Tough Lady
Integra again, he produced his own version of lightheaded youthful laughter and
sat back watching Integra fully comprehending it.

They spoke into the night, well, into 22:30-ish in the
evening when Alucard told her she should use up the opportunity to have a
normal night�s sleep while she can.

They didn�t talk about anything specific, mainly
politics and a little economics, bits of weather talk and a little about
agriculture. Nothing special. But they spoke as two normal friends would,
carefree and liberated from manners of their different statuses. It was a joy.

Walter padded in and out silently, serving Integra
with more teacups and Alucard with his night�s first blood bags. The old man
seemed reservedly pleased with the tensionless atmosphere and the flowing
half-meaningless conversation. When the sun began to raise he walked silently
to the large windows with the stiff wooden shutters behind Integra�s Big Boss
chair and opened them, letting in the first gusts of early spring sweet air.

Lingering by the window, he admired the scent of his
first blooming spring flowers, the silky smooth air, the lazy singing of birds
from the surrounding elm trees and the faint sound of chit chat from the
barracks a few floors below the window. The two behind him spoke calmly, the
men below him spoke lazily (if not a bit sleazily). God decided it was time for
a little spring break it seems. Even the usually violent battle between
nighttime�s blue and sunset�s fiery magenta seemed to soften and dim high in
the sky.

A red haired, frail looking catholic schoolgirl ran
through Integra�s memories of the night before, tearing them with the annoying
reminder that spring break has come to an end.

She finished the rest of her preparations briskly and,
placing another cigar between her lips, stormed out of her room like so many
glorious commanders.

***************

The girl seemed to be sitting on a cell phone with an
incoming call, set on vibrate. She could not pass one second without fidgeting
or jumping a little off her seat or wringing her trembling fingers through her
flaming hair.

Her beady rust colored eyes followed Walter as if the
man was not laying a tray of teacups and teapot before her, but plotting to
murder her while at it. She rubbed her thin legs together unnervingly, clawing
at the heavy velvet armchairs while the man moved around her, enquiring her of
her sugar and milk preferences in her tea.

�Nick off,� she spat at him venomously.

Behind his monocle, Walter�s pitch black eyes stared
at her with the hard earned indifference of old men. He placed the little
silver spoon on the little china saucer under her teacup and slowly
straightened his back, his bones making audible complaints.

Integra marched into the office, snatching her tea cup
off the trey, flicking ash into the ashtray on her table (yet another precious
Hungarian crystal cup). She dropped into her chair with a heavy thud, immediately
crossing her legs and leaning backwards for a full Big Boss Almighty position.
Chewing slightly on her cigar, she let her eyes travel across the girl�s body
with hard earned true cynic�s indifference.

�You�re looking at these, aren�t you,� the girl burst
out at her with chirpy, angry tone, raising her bandaged wrists to the sides of
her head �I didn�t do it,� she accused Integra as if she was the perpetrator
itself.

�I can imagine that you didn�t, this is not an asylum
for the young and restless.� She held herself back from replacing �restless�
with �mindless�. Often Integra felt like she looked at kids of the girl�s
generation with arrogance better placed with Walter�s age group.

��.�

�Was �asylum� a word too big for you?�

�Don�t you mock me,� the girl barked at her, her eyes
ablaze. �I�m not some tweed wearing tart like you!�

�Do you want to be heard little girl?�

The youth huffed and threw herself back into the
chair, folding her arms on her chest in rage. Her tight, finely starched catholic
school uniform seemed to disagree with her angered huffing, creasing as if to
lock her in a corset.

Her frame was thin, almost sickly looking though she
already grew into an initial feminine shape. Her hair was unruly and dry,
falling down in tiny little waves. Her face was pale, her bright ginger
eyelashes almost invisible. Her freckles were kept company by little colonies
of acne on her forehead, cheeks and chin.

The door to Integra�s office opened, letting Pip slide
into the room and close the door behind him without a sound. It was a procedure
for civilians to be interviewed with the company of Integra and a high-ranking
officer or team member.

All the officers were just returning from a surprise
daylong leave (due to the lack of anything better to do with the eventless few
days they�ve had lately). Alucard and the Police Girl were asleep and so Pip
(the Wild Geese� team leader) was the closest thing to the procedure�s
requirements.

Integra was grateful for Pip�s near decent appearance;
his hair was combed back orderly, his uniformed were not dirty or wrinkled or
reeking of cigarettes and gun oil. He smirked at her as he leaned against the
door, at attention as best he could.

At first Integra would have barked at him to wipe that
ridiculous grin off his face when at her presence but lately she came to
realize that the smirk must be more of an uncontrollable twitch then an
intended expression and let the matter drop.

The girl�s rusty colored eyes shot back to Integra
after the waif had half leaped out of her chair to observe the newcomer. �So
you want to hear it,� she mumbled, her eyes now avoiding Integra�s icy stare
with sudden shame.

�I would like to have my morning well spent. Yes, do
tell.�

The girl rubbed at her bandaged wrists, glaring down
at them. �About�a month ago or something, this new teacher came to our school,
Miss Suzanne Clay. She�I thought she was okay�but one day, on a community
contributing party��

�Community�?� Pip even sounded half sane and
reasonable when he spoke up. Integra had to thank him later. While throwing a
half-insult about his French-ness of course, she is British after all.

�It�s this ball party thing where our choir does a
performance and some of the girls bake cookies and things and people of the
neighborhood come to give donations. The money goes for charity, you know.�

Integra nodded, urging the girl to go on. She flicked
the last of her cigar�s ash, butting it and sipping at her tea in the same
time.

�So on that party, she brought her sister along. Her
sister, tssk, how could she be her sister? They don�t even look alike.�
The girl shuddered, a betrayed look tainting her young face. �And that�s when I
met her, Katherina, she came to talk about my cookies and she didn�t even eat
them, I saw that myself! When she started talking to me�I got dizzy all of a
sudden and I didn�t know where I am or who I am or what I�m saying. All I knew
is that she�s some good friend of mine and that I�d like to be around her a
lot.�

The girl sank deeper into the chair, hiding herself as
best possible. Her first wild, teenage rebellion appearance shattered, as her
story reached its darker part. She brought her palms under her arms, bowing her
head to hide her tearful eyes.

�She invited me to her house a lot but�I just can�t remember
what happened there�We�d sit down for a cup of coffee or to watch Eastenders
playbacks but then it�d all mesh up to a blotch and I can�t remember anything
besides�One time I woke up and I was on this bed and Katherina, Miss Suzanne
too, they were��

She clawed at the armrests suddenly as if trying to
stay where she is while a great force tried to pry her out of the couch. She
was shaking badly and her voice was so tear drenched it was hard to make out
her words.

�They slit my wrists and they were pouring my blood
into cups and drinking it like wine! I saw them drink it like that, both
of them!!! And I almost fainted again but I tried to hold steady and not go
back to that blur and then�and then Katherina saw me and she smiled!� A fit of
violent sobs shook through her body. She whimpered like a wounded animal.

Pip walked silently towards Integra�s desk and offered
some tissues, which the girl tore out of his hand and used violently.

Her tearful eyes shot to Integra again, their rims red
and painful. Suddenly her expression was that of rage, of feminine abhorrence.
�She said �don�t worry, little red thing, you�ll be like us one day, you�ll
see�.� As if the last words drained all her emotions out, the girl collapsed
into the chair again with a long huffing sigh.

�And that�s when you came to us, after you woke up
from Katherina�s spell?� Integra lit another cigar, gesturing for pip to open
the window behind her with a violent little jerk of her head.

�Spell?!...I don�t know�I always thought she slipped
something into my tea every time I came over��

She was not aware of the fact that this Katherina was
a vampire. She was in denial. Should she tell her the truth? Integra wondered.
Nah, civilians should be kept as far away from such truths as possible.

These days the younger generation is so cynical, so
doubtful and spiteful, its brain consumed by fashion and MTV and Hollywood that
even if a real vampire leaped before their eyes and killed someone they�d still
doubt it. Which was not a bad thing considering the fact that if they did
believe in vampires, and they did know the truth, they�d probably run
screaming back to mommy.

�Ah well, yes, that could be it as well. You will give
us a urine sample before you leave so we can determinate what type of drug she
was using.�

�Wait a minute�� The girl�s eyes suddenly filled with
scorching doubt. �You said �spell� first, why are you suddenly so sure that
it�s a drug?�

�Well you know.� Integra blew a long thin blue smoke
cloud sideways �Kids your age know very well what it feels like to be under the
influence so I take your word that it was a drug��

The girl was in rage. �I am�I�m a�I�m a good girl,
Jesus Christ!�

Integra did nothing but shoot her eyebrows upwards
while staring at the girl doubtfully.

�Ah! What is this? What if I said I did take drugs,
what business is it of yours? I didn�t hallucinate Katherina, that�s for sure,
I didn�t hallucinate this!� She shot one of her bandaged wrists forward as if
trying to stab someone with it.

�Calm down.�

The girl huffed again, her cheeks flushed, her arms
folding on her chest again. �Prodding into my life like that�my God, I didn�t
expect the Spanish Inquisition!�

Integra had to smirk, her eyes shooting to the door of
her office for a moment. �Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition,� she murmured
into her cigar. The girl was too young to get the joke and Pip was�well, Pip
was French, what did he know?

�I�m getting out of here, you�re all lunatics.� The
girl leaped to her feet.

She was about to storm out of the office before the
winds of battle got knocked out of her once again when her eyes fell on her
wrist as her hand reached for the doorknob.

She turned around, fingering the edge of her school
uniform�s tie �Just�just get her, Katherina that is. I think�I think Miss
Suzanne has nothing to do with it�I think Katherina�s going to go at my friend
Francine��

Integra merely nodded, trusting the awe in the girl�s
eyes as a sign for trust and respect from the teen and avoided talking with her
any more.

Pip closed the door after the girl, having noticed
Walter escorting the young lady out. He turned around with a wider, definitely
intentional grin. �Catholic school girls, merd, she�s lucky my men didn�t see
her or she�d have all the Virgin Mary knocked out of her with words alone.�

�Do leave my office, thank you.�

Pip shrugged and left the room, holding the door for
Walter to come in with his little silver tea trolley.

�Thank you so much, young man,� the old retainer
chimed happily. He parked the trolley besides Integra�s table and quietly began
evicting the girl�s cold teacup and Integra�s empty cup onto it.

He knew he needn�t ask by the look in Integra�s eyes
as she (mock carelessly) scrutinized his movements, he knew something important
was up and that she�ll share him with the information.

�There�s a new vampire around, Walter. A real vampire,
not a mechanically made one.�

�Ah, and just when we started enjoying spring break,
what a shame.� He fought to still his hand from shaking with the china cup and
saucer in hand.

Lately his hands began shaking without control. His
age was betraying him.

�And she�s about to build a coven, too.�

Both Integra and Walter shot their eyes to the vacant
velvet chair, where a bright white toothy grin appeared. Alucard was trying to
pry a smile out of Integra with the Cheshire cat trick she asked of him last
night.

Integra realized she was smiling and fought it back
down. �Explain.�

The vampire completed his appearance and, shooting a
�good morning to you� smirk at Walter, closed his fingers on his knee as he sat
cross-legged leaning into the chair leisurely.

�This Miss Suzanne is her first coven member.
Katherina chose her specifically because she�s still a virgin. That�s what she
wants us to think. In truth she sent Suzanne there to get her information about
big concentrations of fresh virgin�s blood. Now she�s picking her next ally
amongst those who will surely not turn into ghouls, A.K.A, she�s building a
coven.�

�And she targeted Suzanne because�ah, I see, �Miss�
Suzanne. Indeed, most fitting for a teacher in a catholic school,� Walter
muttered, pushing the trolley sideways and lowering himself into the other
chair to give his knees a little rest.

�She wasn�t always a teacher, nor was she always �Miss
Suzanne Clay�� Was Alucard moving uncomfortably in his seat? The great No Life
King, awkward?

Integra blinked a few times to clear her vision.

She and Walter were staring at Alucard intently.

�Katherina is deadly old and powerful, clever like the
devil himself and annoyingly illusive. We�ll need a few good weeks if not a
month or more to track her down.�

Something in the vampire�s tone said that he did not
want to talk about it. �We need to be on alert around places like that
school�maybe.� The mad, bloodthirsty zing returned to Alucard�s eyes under the
shade of his hat �Maybe we can inform our Roman friends of this new danger to
innocent catholic girls, could be fun to have them around a little, don�t you
think?�

Integra glared him into silence.

�Aw, you�re no fun anymore.�

�Since you�re being such a clever little thing today,
so full of brilliant suggestions how about this; you go out there and find me
this Katherina and deal with her yourself. I�m sure the men would like to enjoy
the little break they�ve been having a little more, you described her as too
powerful for our men anyway, didn�t you?� She butted her cigar, lighting
another one almost immediately. �And take the police girl with you.�

Alucard, already by the wall leading to the corridor to
his basement, turned around to face his master. He wasn�t teasing anymore�he
was grave.

�That means I�ll have to wait until nightfall, which
could cost that girl her life and maybe the lives of a few other virgins.�

�Alucard, Sir.� Walter�s voice was cool and smooth.
�Just how serious is this Katherina business?�

�Very serious. I�ll be out on patrol.� He disappeared
into the wall.

Integra gnawed at the end of her cigar calmly.

Walter shrugged and rose to return the trolley to the
kitchen.

Despite the new threat to London, as usual, Hellsing
remained calm and gallantly confident.

*******************

As soon as she was awake, Victoria was called over to
Integra�s office for briefing of the new situation.

She never seized to move uneasily on her seat as her
commander brought her up on what was new.

Integra eyed the girl as she spoke, constantly
registering every awkward little gesture and tic the young vampire displayed.

Victoria was an ever blundering, constantly stumbling
young thing, and a sworn newbie. Nonetheless she knew exactly what to do in the
heat of battle and her little mistakes were always minimized in the face of her
achievements and worthy fighting.

Though she often treated the young blonde with
scolding arrogance and near distaste, one day when she�ll brief her successor
of Hellsing�s manpower Integra will speak highly of Seras Victoria.

�Alucard returned from patrol about two hours ago,
he�ll be out again in an hour or so, go with him. That is all, dismissed.�

Victoria leaped to her feet, relieved to be excused of
the stressful atmosphere (stressful to her anyway, no one else sensed it), and
saluted her commander rigidly.

She left through the door. That was another thing
Integra liked about her, consideration of the mortal�s nerves when making an
exit, unlike her snappy master.

Victoria turned away from the corridor leading to the
armory and quartermasters, choosing to take a stroll around the mansion
instead. She always needed a good refreshing walk after going to Integra�s
office; the woman�s presence did not do well on her nerves. Besides, the
exercise will only do her good. Something she shouldn�t be thinking with a
vampire�s inhuman agility.

She slowed her pace as she walked into the large
English garden, letting the cool evening air laden with moisture from the newly
watered grass seep into her skin and calm her. She scanned the flowerbeds and
blooming bushes, feeling sorry she can�t see their lively colors in daylight
anymore.

She walked around one of the neat little white painted
metal tea tables, running her gloved finger on the smooth glass surface
absentmindedly. She was biting her lower lip with her newly enlarged fang,
shocked when suddenly tasting her own blood.

She gazed up at the stars, seen more clearly here away
from the bright city lights turning the sky dark purple. She looked at the
almost full moon, raking her mind trying to remember what her schoolmate once
told her about Jewish holidays in the spring. Ah yes�it was Passover soon,
right Hanna?

She touched her chin to her chest childishly. Suddenly
the all-consuming loneliness of being here, in Hellsing, a vampire, crushed
onto her full force. She will never see Hanna again, not without long elaborate
explanations of why she didn�t speak to her for so long and where she was all
this time and why is she wearing gloves and why are her eyes suddenly red.

A single blood tear rolled down her cheek. Her
shoulders trembled with repressed sobs just a little bit.

Then she shot her head back up, taking a sharp breath
in while scanning the garden for anyone who might have spotted her crying,
wiping her cheek briskly. No, there was no one here. Just like there was no one
out of Hellsing for her to be in touch with.

She needed a friend.

�I�m insulted.�

She almost jumped out of her skin as her master�s
voice, coming from deep in the assorted bushes, tore through her thoughts.

�M�master��

�You don�t consider me your friend?� He advanced
towards her with big heavy steps until he was close enough for her to smell the
car smoke and street smells off his coat. He was walking around in the city for
long.

�Um�uh�I�um��

�Relax, you�re��

Victoria raised
her eyes to her master after bowing them awkwardly. He was about to say
something about her? Her heart was beating a little too fast for her to admit
it. She suddenly hungered for his words, his voice, and his eyes on her�

But Alucard was lost in the night, his ever grinning
mask dropped. He was still holding his hand up in the gesture about to match
whatever he was about to say to Victoria when something took his attention
away.

His eyes were not mean or teasing or smug or anything
Alucard-ish, they were serious and tentative, frowning. It was as if someone
turned a radio on, blurting important news Alucard just had to hear.

�What is it Master?�

She wasn�t answered.

Her master dashed off towards the carriageway, his
coat billowing like red fury under the slightly yellow military-base lamps.

As he wondered away from her she thought she heard him
say something like �Nicola� under his breath in a voice deep, almost soft, like
nothing she�s ever heard him use.

He stopped in the middle of the asphalt road, facing
the great gate.

The wind played gently at the slightly tattered rims
of his great coat. He stared at the great gate, awaiting, completely lost in
listening and smelling and sensing whatever was about to come.

Astonished at these new features in her master,
Victoria walked over to him, accidentally banging into a few more tea tables on
her way out of the garden. The reference to her, the admittance that her master
was her friend too, cut in the middle left a sour residue in her chest.

As she placed herself behind her master, slightly
cowering behind him, she noticed the figure limping towards them on the road
past the great gate.

She watched as the figure limped all the way to the
gate. Exhaustedly, letting his thin palms droop over the cold metal, the figure
leaned on the great iron doors to open them.

It was a man about her height and only slightly
thinner then her. The lamps� light fell on him so that most of his features
remained veiled from Victoria. All she could make out of him was his long black
hair; his ragged dirty clothing mucky with damp earth and his bare feet.

Her master twitched, repressing a need to reach out
for the staggering man.

He was too late, for by the time the man was close
enough to the both of them he collapsed forward, caught by her master just
before hitting the road.

Before the man let go, Victoria could see a flashing
of one red eye from the deep shadows his hanging hair.

Alucard heaved the limp body to a better position in
his arms and, muttering something in a heavy east European sounding dialect,
stormed off into the mansion.

In these moments Alucard seemed as if he was
completely blind to his environment, his position, the rules his master made
for him, means of security. Whoever the man was he had a great effect on
Alucard.

Victoria trailed after him, feelings of anger at her
puppyish behavior mixed with raging curiosity.

(tbc)
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Ancient Children