CHAPTER81ThePequodMeetsTheVirgin

thepredestinateddayarrived,andwedulymettheshipjungfrau,derickdedeer,master,ofbremen.

atonetimethegreatestwhalingpeopleintheworld,thedutchandgermansarenowamongtheleast;buthereandthereatverywideintervalsoflatitudeandlongitude,youstilloccasionallymeetwiththeirflaginthepacific.

forsomereason,thejungfrauseemedquiteeagertopayherrespects.whileyetsomedistancefromthepequod,sheroundedto,anddroppingaboat,hercaptainwasimpelledtowardsus,impatientlystandinginthebowsinsteadofthestern.

"whathasheinhishandthere?"criedstarbuck,pointingtosomethingwavinglyheldbythegerman."impossible!—alamp-feeder!"

"notthat,"saidstubb,"no,no,it'sacoffee-pot,mr.starbuck;he'scomingofftomakeusourcoffee,istheyarman;don'tyouseethatbigtincantherealongsideofhim?—that'shisboilingwater.oh!he'sallright,istheyarman."

"goalongwithyou,"criedflask,"it'salampfeederandanoil-can.he'soutofoil,andhascomea-ing."

howevercuriousitmayseemforanoil-shiptobeborrowingoilonthewhale-ground,andhowevermuchitmayinvertedlycontradicttheoldproverbaboutcarryingcoalstonewcastle,yetsometimessuchathingreallyhappens;andinthepresentcasecaptainderickdedeerdidindubitablyconductalamp-feederasflaskdiddeclare.

ashemountedthedeck,ahababruptlyaccostedhim,withoutatallheedingwhathehadinhishand;butinhisbrokenlingo,thegermansoonevincedhiscompleteignoranceofthewhitewhale;immediatelyturningtheconversationtohislamp-feederandoilcan,withsomeremarkstouchinghishavingtoturnintohishammockatnightinprofounddarkness—hislastdropofbremenoilbeinggone,andnotasingleflying-fishyetcapturedtosupplythedeficiency;concludingbyhintingthathisshipwasindeedwhatinthefisheryistechnicallycalledacleanone(thatis,anemptyone),welldeservingthenameofjungfrauorthevirgin.

hisnecessitiessupplied,derickdeparted;buthehadnotgainedhisship'sside,whenwhaleswerealmostsimultaneouslyraisedfromthemast-headsofbothvessels;andsoeagerforthechasewasderick,thatwithoutpausingtoputhisoil-canandlamp-feederaboard,heslewedroundhisboatandmadeaftertheleviathanlamp-feeders.

now,thegamehavingrisentoleeward,heandtheotherthreegermanboatsthatsoonfollowedhim,hadconsiderablythestartofthepequod'skeels.therewereeightwhales,anaveragepod.awareoftheirdanger,theyweregoingallabreastwithgreatspeedstraightbeforethewind,rubbingtheirflanksascloselyassomanyspansofhorsesinharness.theyleftagreat,widewake,asthoughcontinuallyunrollingagreatwideparchmentuponthesea.

fullinthisrapidwake,andmanyfathomsintherear,swamahuge,humpedoldbull,whichbyhiscomparativelyslowprogress,aswellasbytheunusualyellowishincrustationsovergrowinghim,seemedafflictedwiththejaundice,orsomeotherinfirmity.whetherthiswhalebelongedtothepodinadvance,seemedquestionable;foritisnotcustomaryforsuchvenerableleviathanstobeatallsocial.nevertheless,hestucktotheirwake,thoughindeedtheirbackwatermusthaveretardedhim,becausethewhite-boneorswellathisbroadmuzzlewasadashedone,liketheswellformedwhentwohostilecurrentsmeet.hisspoutwasshort,slow,andlaborious;comingforthwithachokingsortofgush,andspendingitselfintornshreds,followedbystrangesubterraneancommotionsinhim,whichseemedtohaveegressathisotherburiedextremity,causingthewatersbehindhimtoupbubble.

"who'sgotsomeparegoric?"saidstubb,"hehasthestomach-ache,i'mafraid.lord,thinkofhavinghalfanacreofstomach-ache!adversewindsareholdingmadchristmasinhim,boys.it'sthefirstfoulwindieverknewtoblowfromastern;butlook,dideverwhaleyawsobefore?itmustbe,he'slosthistiller."

asanoverladenindiamanbearingdownthehindostancoastwithadeckloadoffrightenedhorses,careens,buries,rolls,andwallowsonherway;sodidthisoldwhaleheavehisagedbulk,andnowandthenpartlyturningoveronhiscumbrousrib-ends,exposethecauseofhisdeviouswakeintheunnaturalstumpofhisstarboardfin.whetherhehadlostthatfininbattle,orhadbeenbornwithoutit,itwerehardtosay."onlywaitabit,oldchap,andi'llgiveyeaslingforthatwoundedarm,"criedcruelflask,pointingtothewhale-linenearhim.

"mindhedon'tslingtheewithit,"criedstarbuck."giveway,orthegermanwillhavehim."

withoneintentallthecombinedrivalboatswerepointedforthisonefish,becausenotonlywashethelargest,andthereforethemostvaluablewhale,buthewasnearesttothem,andtheotherwhalesweregoingwithsuchgreatvelocity,moreover,asalmosttodefypursuitforthetime.atthisjuncturethepequod'skeelshadshotbythethreegermanboatslastlowered;butfromthegreatstarthehadhad,derick'sboatstillledthechase,thougheverymomentnearedbyhisforeignrivals.theonlythingtheyfeared,was,thatfrombeingalreadysonightohismark,hewouldbeenabledtodarthisironbeforetheycouldcompletelyovertakeandpasshim.asforderick,heseemedquiteconfidentthatthiswouldbethecase,andoccasionallywithaderidinggestureshookhislamp-feederattheotherboats.

"theungraciousandungratefuldog!"criedstarbuck;"hemocksanddaresmewiththeverypoor-boxifilledforhimnotfiveminutesago!"—theninhisolintensewhisper—"giveway,greyhounds!dogtoit!"

"itellyewhatitis,men"—criedstubbtohiscrew—"it'sagainstmyreligiontogetmad;buti'dliketoeatthatvillainousyarman—pull—won'tye?areyegoingtoletthatrascalbeatye?doyelovebrandy?ahogsheadofbrandy,then,tothebestman.come,whydon'tsomeofyeburstablood-vessel?who'sthatbeendroppingananchoroverboard—wedon'tbudgeaninch—we'rebecalmed.halloo,here'sgrassgrowingintheboat'sbottom—andbythelord,themastthere'sbudding.thiswon'tdo,boys.lookatthatyarman!theshortandlongofitis,men,willyespitfireornot?"

"oh!seethesudshemakes!"criedflask,dancingupanddown—"whatahump—oh,dopileonthebeef—layslikealog!oh!mylads,dospring—slap-jacksandquahogsforsupper,youknow,mylads—bakedclamsandmuffins—oh,do,do,spring,—he'sahundredbarreller—don'tlosehimnow—don'toh,don't!—seethatyarman—oh,won'tyepullforyourduff,mylads—suchasog!suchaer!don'tyelovesperm?theregoesthreethousanddollars,men!—abank!—awholebank!thebankofengland!—oh,do,do,do!—what'sthatyarmanaboutnow?"

atthismomentderickwasintheactofpitchinghislamp-feederattheadvancingboats,andalsohisoil-can;perhapswiththedoubleviewofretardinghisrivals'way,andatthesametimeeconomicallyacceleratinghisownbythemomentaryimpetusofthebackwardtoss.

"theunmannerlydutcher!"criedstubb."pullnow,men,likefiftythousandline-of-battle-shiploadsofred-haireddevils.whatd'yesay,tashtego;areyouthemantosnapyourspineintwo-and-twentypiecesforthehonorofoldgayhead?whatd'yesay?"

"isay,pulllikegod-dam,"—criedtheindian.

fiercely,butevenlyincitedbythetauntsofthegerman,thepequod'sthreeboatsnowbeganrangingalmostabreast;and,sodisposed,momentarilynearedhim.inthatfine,loose,chivalrousattitudeoftheheadsmanwhendrawingneartohisprey,thethreematesstoodupproudly,occasionallybackingtheafteroarsmanwithanexhilaratingcryof,"theresheslides,now!hurrahforthewhite-ashbreeze!downwiththeyarman!sailoverhim!"

butsodecidedanoriginalstarthadderickhad,thatspiteofalltheirgallantry,hewouldhaveprovedthevictorinthisrace,hadnotarighteousjudgmentdescendeduponhiminacrabwhichcaughtthebladeofhismidshipoarsman.whilethisclumsylubberwasstrivingtofreehiswhite-ash,andwhile,inconsequence,derick'sboatwasnightocapsizing,andhethunderingawayathismeninamightyrage;—thatwasagoodtimeforstarbuck,stubb,andflask.withashout,theytookamortalstartforwards,andslantinglyrangeduponthegerman'squarter.aninstantmore,andallfourboatswerediagonicallyinthewhale'simmediatewake,whilestretchingfromthem,onbothsides,wasthefoamingswellthathemade.

itwasaterrific,mostpitiable,andmaddeningsight.thewhalewasnowgoingheadout,andsendinghisspoutbeforehiminacontinualtormentedjet;whilehisonepoorfinbeathissideinanagonyoffright.nowtothishand,nowtothat,heyawedinhisfalteringflight,andstillateverybillowthathebroke,hespasmodicallysankinthesea,orsidewaysrolledtowardstheskyhisonebeatingfin.sohaveiseenabirdwithclippedwingmakingaffrightedbrokencirclesintheair,vainlystrivingtoescapethepiraticalhawks.butthebirdhasavoice,andwithplaintivecrieswillmakeknownherfear;butthefearofthisvastdumbbruteofthesea,waschainedupandenchantedinhim;hehadnovoice,savethatchokingrespirationthroughhisspiracle,andthismadethesightofhimunspeakablypitiable;whilestill,inhisamazingbulk,portcullisjaw,andomnipotenttail,therewasenoughtoappalthestoutestmanwhosopitied.

seeingnowthatbutaveryfewmomentsmorewouldgivethepequod'sboatstheadvantage,andratherthanbethusfoiledofhisgame,derickchosetohazardwhattohimmusthaveseemedamostunusuallylongdart,erethelastchancewouldforeverescape.

butnosoonerdidhisharpooneerstandupforthestroke,thanallthreetigers—queequeg,tashtego,oo—instinctivelysprangtotheirfeet,andstandinginadiagonalrow,simultaneouslypointedtheirbarbs;anddartedovertheheadofthegermanharpooneer,theirthreenantucketironsenteredthewhale.blindingvaporsoffoamandwhite-fire!thethreeboats,inthefirstfuryofthewhale'sheadlongrush,bumpedthegerman'sasidewithsuchforce,thatbothderickandhisbaffledharpooneerwerespilledout,andsailedoverbythethreeflyingkeels.

"don'tbeafraid,mybutter-boxes,"criedstubb,castingapassingglanceuponthemasheshotby;"ye'llbepickeduppresently—allright—isawsomesharksastern—st.bernard'sdogs,youknow—relievedistressedtravellers.hurrah!thisisthewaytosailnow.everykeelasunbeam!hurrah!—herewegolikethreetinkettlesatthetailofamadcougar!thisputsmeinmindoffasteningtoanelephantinatilburyonaplain—makesthewheel-spokesfly,boys,whenyoufastentohimthatway;andthere'sdangerofbeingpitchedouttoo,whenyoustrikeahill.hurrah!thisisthewayafellowfeelswhenhe'sgoingtodavyjones—allarushdownanendlessinclinedplane!hurrah!thiswhalecarriestheeverlastingmail!"

butthemonster'srunwasabriefone.givingasuddengasp,hetumultuouslysounded.withagratingrush,thethreelinesflewroundtheerheadswithsuchaforceastogougedeepgroovesinthem;whilesofearfulweretheharpooneersthatthisrapidsoundingwouldsoonexhaustthelines,thatusingalltheirdexterousmight,theycaughtrepeatedsmokingturnswiththeropetoholdon;tillatlast—owingtotheperpendicularstrainfromthelead-linedchocksoftheboats,whencethethreeropeswentstraightdownintotheblue—thegunwalesofthebowswerealmostevenwiththewater,whilethethreesternstiltedhighintheair.andthewhalesoonceasingtosound,forsometimetheyremainedinthatattitude,fearfulofexpendingmoreline,thoughthepositionwasalittleticklish.butthoughboatshavebeentakendownandlostinthisway,yetitisthis"holdingon,"asitiscalled;thishookingupbythesharpbarbsofhislivefleshfromtheback;thisitisthatoftentormentstheleviathanintosoonrisingagaintomeetthesharplanceofhisfoes.yetnottospeakoftheperilofthething,itistobedoubtedwhetherthiscourseisalwaysthebest;foritisbutreasonabletopresume,thatthelongerthestrickenwhalestaysunderwater,themoreheisexhausted.because,owingtotheenormoussurfaceofhim—inafullgrownspermwhalesomethinglessthan2000squarefeet—thepressureofthewaterisimmense.weallknowwhatanastonishingatmosphericweightweourselvesstandupunder;evenhere,above-ground,intheair;howvast,then,theburdenofawhale,bearingonhisbackacolumnoftwohundredfathomsofocean!itmustatleastequaltheweightoffiftyatmospheres.onewhalemanhasestimateditattheweightoftwentyline-of-battleships,withalltheirguns,andstores,andmenonboard.

asthethreeboatslaythereonthatgentlyrollingsea,gazingdownintoitseternalbluenoon;andasnotasinglegroanorcryofanysort,nay,notsomuchasarippleorabubblecameupfromitsdepths;whatlandsmanwouldhavethought,thatbeneathallthatsilenceandplacidity,theutmostmonsteroftheseaswaswrithingandwrenchinginagony!noteightinchesofperpendicularropewerevisibleatthebows.seemsitcrediblethatbythreesuchthinthreadsthegreatleviathanwassuspendedlikethebigweighttoaneightdayclock.suspended?andtowhat?tothreebitsofboard.isthisthecreatureofwhomitwasoncesotriumphantlysaid—"canstthoufillhisskinwithbarbedirons?orhisheadwithfish-spears?theswordofhimthatlayethathimcannothold,thespear,thedart,northehabergeon:heesteemethironasstraw;thearrowcannotmakehimflee;dartsarecountedasstubble;helaughethattheshakingofaspear!"thisthecreature?thishe?oh!thatunfulfilmentsshouldfollowtheprophets.forwiththestrengthofathousandthighsinhistail,leviathanhadrunhisheadunderthemountainsofthesea,tohidehimfromthepequod'sfish-spears!

inthatslopingafternoonsunlight,theshadowsthatthethreeboatssentdownbeneaththesurface,musthavebeenlongenoughandbroadenoughtoshadehalfxerxes'army.whocantellhowappallingtothewoundedwhalemusthavebeensuchhugephantomsflittingoverhishead!

"standby,men;hestirs,"criedstarbuck,asthethreelinessuddenlyvibratedinthewater,distinctlyconductingupwardstothem,asbymagneticwires,thelifeanddeaththrobsofthewhale,sothateveryoarsmanfelttheminhisseat.thenextmoment,relievedingreatpartfromthedownwardstrainatthebows,theboatsgaveasuddenbounceupwards,asasmallicefieldwill,whenadenseherdofwhitebearsarescaredfromitintothesea.

"haulin!haulin!"criedstarbuckagain;"he'srising."

thelines,ofwhich,hardlyaninstantbefore,notonehand'sbreadthcouldhavebeengained,werenowinlongquickcoilsflungbackalldrippingintotheboats,andsoonthewhalebrokewaterwithintwoship'slengthsofthehunters.

hismotionsplainlydenotedhisextremeexhaustion.inmostlandanimalstherearecertainvalvesorfloodgatesinmanyoftheirveins,wherebywhenwounded,thebloodisinsomedegreeatleastinstantlyshutoffincertaindirections.notsowiththewhale;oneofwhosepeculiaritiesitistohaveanentirenon-valvularstructureoftheblood-vessels,sothatwhenpiercedevenbysosmallapointasaharpoon,adeadlydrainisatoncebegunuponhiswholearterialsystem;andwhenthisisheightenedbytheextraordinarypressureofwateratagreatdistancebelowthesurface,hislifemaybesaidtopourfromhiminincessantstreams.yetsovastisthequantityofbloodinhim,andsodistantandnumerousitsinteriorfountains,thathewillkeepthusbleedingandbleedingforaconsiderableperiod;evenasinadroughtariverwillflow,whosesourceisinthewell-springsoffar-offandundiscerniblehills.evennow,whentheboatspulleduponthiswhale,andperilouslydrewoverhisswayingflukes,andthelancesweredartedintohim,theywerefollowedbysteadyjetsfromthenewmadewound,whichkeptcontinuallyplaying,whilethenaturalspout-holeinhisheadwasonlyatintervals,howeverrapid,sendingitsaffrightedmoistureintotheair.fromthislastventnobloodyetcame,becausenovitalpartofhimhadthusfarbeenstruck.hislife,astheysignificantlycallit,wasuntouched.

astheboatsnowmorecloselysurroundedhim,thewholeupperpartofhisform,withmuchofitthatisordinarilysubmerged,wasplainlyrevealed.hiseyes,orrathertheplaceswherehiseyeshadbeen,werebeheld.asstrangemisgrownmassesgatherintheknot-holesofthenoblestoakswhenprostrate,sofromthepointswhichthewhale'seyeshadonceoccupied,nowprotrudedblindbulbs,horriblypitiabletosee.butpitytherewasnone.forallhisoldage,andhisonearm,andhisblindeyes,hemustdiethedeathandbemurdered,inordertolightthegaybridalsandothermerry-makingsofmen,andalsotoilluminatethesolemnchurchesthatpreachunconditionalinoffensivenessbyalltoall.stillrollinginhisblood,atlasthepartiallydisclosedastrangelydiscolouredbunchorprotuberance,thesizeofabushel,lowdownontheflank.

"anicespot,"criedflask;"justletmeprickhimthereonce."

"avast!"criedstarbuck,"there'snoneedofthat!"

buthumanestarbuckwastoolate.attheinstantofthedartanulcerousjetshotfromthiscruelwound,andgoadedbyitintomorethansufferableanguish,thewhalenowspoutingthickblood,withswiftfuryblindlydartedatthecraft,bespatteringthemandtheirgloryingcrewsalloverwithshowersofgore,capsizingflask'sboatandmarringthebows.itwashisdeathstroke.for,bythistime,sospentwashebylossofblood,thathehelplesslyrolledawayfromthewreckhehadmade;laypantingonhisside,impotentlyflappedwithhisstumpedfin,thenoverandoverslowlyrevolvedlikeawaningworld;turnedupthewhitesecretsofhisbelly;laylikealog,anddied.itwasmostpiteous,thatlastexpiringspout.aswhenbyunseenhandsthewaterisgraduallydrawnofffromsomemightyfountain,andwithhalf-stifledmelancholygurglingsthespray-columnlowersandlowerstotheground—sothelastlongdyingspoutofthewhale.

soon,whilethecrewswereawaitingthearrivaloftheship,thebodyshowedsymptomsofsinkingwithallitstreasuresunrifled.immediately,bystarbuck'sorders,linesweresecuredtoitatdifferentpoints,sothaterelongeveryboatwasabuoy;thesunkenwhalebeingsuspendedafewinchesbeneaththembythecords.byveryheedfulmanagement,whentheshipdrewnigh,thewhalewastransferredtoherside,andwasstronglysecuredtherebythestiffestfluke-chains,foritwasplainthatunlessartificiallyupheld,thebodywouldatoncesinktothebottom.

itsochancedthatalmostuponfirstcuttingintohimwiththespade,theentirelengthofacorrodedharpoonwasfoundimbeddedinhisflesh,onthelowerpartofthebunchbeforedescribed.butasthestumpsofharpoonsarefrequentlyfoundinthedeadbodiesofcapturedwhales,withthefleshperfectlyhealedaroundthem,andnoprominenceofanykindtodenotetheirplace;therefore,theremustneedshavebeensomeotherunknownreasoninthepresentcasefullytoaccountfortheulcerationalludedto.butstillmorecuriouswasthefactofalance-headofstonebeingfoundinhim,notfarfromtheburiediron,thefleshperfectlyfirmaboutit.whohaddartedthatstonlance?andwhen?itmighthavebeendartedbysomenor'westindianlongbeforeamericawasdiscovered.

whatothermarvelsmighthavebeenrummagedoutofthismonstrouscabinetthereisnotelling.butasuddenstopwasputtofurtherdiscoveries,bytheship'sbeingunprecedentedlyedoversidewaystothesea,owingtothebody'simmenselyincreasingtendencytosink.however,starbuck,whohadtheorderingofaffairs,hungontoittothelast;hungontoitsoresolutely,indeed,thatwhenatlengththeshipwouldhavebeencapsized,ifstillpersistinginlockingarmswiththebody;then,whenthecommandwasgiventobreakclearfromit,suchwastheimmovablestrainuponthetimber-headstowhichthefluke-chainsandcableswerefastened,thatitwasimpossibletocastthemoff.meantimeeverythinginthepequodwasaslant.tocrosstotheothersideofthedeckwaslikewalkingupthesteepgabledroofofahouse.theshipgroanedandgasped.manyoftheivoryinlayingsofherbulwarksandcabinswerestartedfromtheirplaces,bytheunnaturaldislocation.invainhandspikesandcrowswerebroughttobearupontheimmovableflukechains,toprythemadriftfromthetimberheads;andsolowhadthewhalenowsettledthatthesubmergedendscouldnotbeatallapproached,whileeverymomentwholetonsofponderosityseemedaddedtothesinkingbulk,andtheshipseemedonthepointofgoingover.

"holdon,holdon,won'tye?"criedstubbtothebody,"don'tbeinsuchadevilofahurrytosink!bythunder,men,wemustdosomethingorgoforit.nousepryingthere;avast,isaywithyourhandspikes,andrunoneofyeforaprayerbookandapen-knife,andcutthebigchains."

"knife?aye,aye,"criedqueequeg,andseizingthecarpenter'sheavyhatchet,heleanedoutofaporthole,andsteeltoiron,beganslashingatthelargestflukechains.butafewstrokes,fullofsparks,weregiven,whentheexceedingstraineffectedtherest.withaterrificsnap,everyfasteningwentadrift;theshiprighted,thecarcasesank.

now,thisoccasionalinevitablesinkingoftherecentlykilledspermwhaleisaverycuriousthing;norhasanyfishermanyetadequatelyaccountedforit.usuallythedeadspermwhalefloatswithgreatbuoyancy,withitssideorbellyconsiderablyelevatedabovethesurface.iftheonlywhalesthatthussankwereold,meagre,andbroken-heartedcreatures,theirpadsoflarddiminishedandalltheirbonesheavyandrheumatic;thenyoumightwithsomereasonassertthatthissinkingiscausedbyanuncommonspecificgravityinthefishsosinking,consequentuponthisabsenceofbuoyantmatterinhim.butitisnotso.foryoungwhales,inthehighesthealth,andswellingwithnobleaspirations,prematurelycutoffinthewarmflushandmayoflife,withalltheirpantinglardaboutthem;eventhesebrawny,buoyantheroesdosometimessink.

beitsaid,however,thatthespermwhaleisfarlessliabletothisaccidentthananyotherspecies.whereoneofthatsortgodown,twentyrightwhalesdo.thisdifferenceinthespeciesisnodoubtimputableinnosmalldegreetothegreaterquantityofboneintherightwhale;hisvenetianblindsalonesometimesweighingmorethanaton;fromthisincumbrancethespermwhaleiswhollyfree.butthereareinstanceswhere,afterthelapseofmanyhoursorseveraldays,thesunkenwhaleagainrises,morebuoyantthaninlife.butthereasonofthisisobvious.gasesaregeneratedinhim;heswellstoaprodigiousmagnitude;becomesasortofanimalballoon.aline-of-battleshipcouldhardlykeephimunderthen.intheshorewhaling,onsoundings,amongthebaysofnewzealand,whenarightwhalegivestokenofsinking,theyfastenbuoystohim,withplentyofrope;sothatwhenthebodyhasgonedown,theyknowwheretolookforitwhenitshallhaveascendedagain.

itwasnotlongafterthesinkingofthebodythatacrywasheardfromthepequod'smast-heads,announcingthatthejungfrauwasagainloweringherboats;thoughtheonlyspoutinsightwasthatofafin-back,belongingtothespeciesofuncapturablewhales,becauseofitsincrediblepowerofswimming.nevertheless,thefin-back'sspoutissosimilartothespermwhale's,thatbyunskilfulfishermenitisoftenmistakenforit.andconsequentlyderickandallhishostwerenowinvaliantchaseofthisunnearablebrute.thevirgincrowdingallsail,madeafterherfouryoungkeels,andthustheyalldisappearedfartoleeward,stillinbold,hopefulchase.

oh!manyarethefin-backs,andmanyarethedericks,myfriend.