UNKNOWN LAND - STRANGERS ON THE HIGHWAY

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Chapter 7: Strangers on the Highway

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"Not every smile hides kindness, and not every warning comes from an enemy."

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The first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds as Tunde, Musa, and Emeka woke inside the abandoned hut.

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The storm had passed.

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The air smelled fresh.

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Birds sang from nearby trees.

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For a brief moment, the world seemed peaceful.

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But their journey was far from peaceful.

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After sharing the last pieces of bread they had, the three friends packed their bags and returned to the road.

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The highway stretched endlessly before them.

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Unlike the quiet paths near Ajanaku, this road was alive.

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Trucks thundered past.

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Buses raced by in clouds of dust.

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Motorcycles weaved between vehicles.

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The noise was overwhelming.

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Musa stared in amazement.

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"I've never seen so many people moving at once."

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Tunde nodded.

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"It feels like the whole world is traveling."

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Emeka remained silent.

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His eyes studied everything carefully.

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Every traveler.

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Every vehicle.

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Every face.

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The road was teaching him an important lesson.

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The world beyond the village was much bigger than he had imagined.

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Hours passed.

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The sun climbed higher.

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The traffic increased.

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And with every passing moment, they encountered new people.

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Some were friendly.

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Others were not.

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Some carried stories.

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Others carried secrets.

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Near midday, they met a middle-aged trader pushing a cart filled with fruits.

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The man greeted them warmly.

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"Good afternoon, young men."

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"Good afternoon, sir," they replied.

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The trader smiled.

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"You look tired."

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"We've been walking since yesterday," Musa admitted.

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The man nodded knowingly.

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Then he handed each of them an orange.

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The boys exchanged surprised glances.

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"Thank you, sir."

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The trader waved dismissively.

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"One day you may help someone else."

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As he continued on his journey, Tunde smiled.

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"There are still good people in the world."

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"Yes," Emeka replied.

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"But not everyone."

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The warning would soon prove true.

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By late afternoon, the three friends arrived at a busy roadside market.

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Dozens of travelers filled the area.

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Vendors shouted loudly.

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Children ran between stalls.

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Vehicles stopped briefly before continuing their journeys.

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The place buzzed with life.

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The boys decided to rest.

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They sat beneath a tree and watched the crowd.

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That was when a well-dressed man approached them.

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He appeared friendly.

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Confident.

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Successful.

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His expensive shoes immediately caught Musa's attention.

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The stranger smiled warmly.

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"You boys look new to the road."

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Tunde nodded cautiously.

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"We are."

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The man sat beside them.

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"Traveling to the city?"

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"Yes."

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The stranger's smile widened.

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"Perfect."

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The boys exchanged curious glances.

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The man introduced himself as Chief Benson.

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According to him, he owned several businesses in the city.

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As the conversation continued, his promises became increasingly attractive.

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"I can help you."

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The three friends listened carefully.

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"There are jobs available."

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Their eyes brightened.

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"Good jobs."

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Their hope grew stronger.

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"Accommodation too."

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Now they were fully interested.

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Everything sounded too good to be true.

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And that was exactly the problem.

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A Yoruba proverb says:

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"The fish that rushes toward every bait often ends up in a basket."

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But hope has a way of silencing wisdom.

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The stranger continued speaking.

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"You seem hardworking."

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"We are," Tunde replied.

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"Excellent."

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Chief Benson smiled.

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"I can arrange everything."

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For a moment, the future seemed brighter.

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Easier.

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Almost magical.

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Then something unexpected happened.

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An old woman selling roasted groundnuts nearby suddenly interrupted.

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"Young men."

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The boys turned toward her.

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The woman looked directly into their eyes.

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"Be careful."

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An uncomfortable silence followed.

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Chief Benson's smile vanished instantly.

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The old woman continued.

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"Not every path leads where it claims."

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The stranger stood abruptly.

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His friendly appearance disappeared.

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"Mind your business."

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The woman refused to look away.

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"I am minding my business."

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The tension was immediate.

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The boys exchanged nervous glances.

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Something felt wrong.

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Very wrong.

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Chief Benson forced another smile.

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Then he turned back to them.

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"Think about my offer."

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Without another word, he walked away.

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The old woman watched until he disappeared into the crowd.

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Only then did she approach them.

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"Listen carefully."

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The three friends leaned forward.

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"I've been selling here for twenty years."

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Her voice was calm.

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"I have seen many young travelers."

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She pointed toward the road.

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"Some reached their destination."

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A pause.

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"Others disappeared."

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Fear crept into Musa's chest.

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The woman continued.

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"That man approaches young travelers every month."

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"What does he do?" Emeka asked.

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The old woman shook her head.

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"Nobody knows exactly."

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The answer was frightening.

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"But many who follow him never return."

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Silence followed.

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A chill ran through the three friends.

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They had almost trusted him.

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Almost followed him.

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Almost walked into danger.

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The old woman sighed.

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Then she spoke another proverb.

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"The stranger who offers you a crown before knowing your name often hides chains behind his back."

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The lesson was clear.

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Not every opportunity was genuine.

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Not every smiling face was trustworthy.

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The boys thanked her sincerely.

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As they prepared to leave, she handed them a small bag of roasted groundnuts.

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"For the road."

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Musa smiled.

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"Thank you, Mama."

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The woman nodded.

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"Travel safely."

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As evening approached, the friends continued walking.

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The highway slowly grew quieter.

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The market faded behind them.

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The encounter with Chief Benson remained fresh in their minds.

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Finally, Tunde spoke.

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"We almost followed him."

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"Yes."

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Musa shivered.

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"Imagine where we might be now."

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Emeka looked toward the horizon.

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"Or what might have happened."

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Nobody said anything else.

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The thought was terrifying.

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As darkness descended, they found shelter beneath a large tree.

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Exhausted, they sat together.

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The events of the day replayed in their minds.

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The kind fruit seller.

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The suspicious businessman.

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The wise old woman.

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Three strangers.

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Three lessons.

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Three reminders that the world was far more complicated than they had imagined.

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Before sleeping, Emeka opened his notebook.

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By lantern light, he wrote:

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"Today we learned that the road contains both helpers and hunters. Wisdom is knowing the difference."

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He closed the notebook slowly.

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Above them, stars filled the sky.

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The same stars that shone above Ajanaku.

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The same stars their families might be looking at.

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For a moment, the distance between them and home felt smaller.

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But only for a moment.

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Because tomorrow would bring another day.

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Another stretch of highway.

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Another test.

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Another lesson.

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And somewhere ahead, hidden beyond countless roads and endless miles, the Unknown Land continued to wait.

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Patiently.

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Silently.

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Watching them come closer.

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