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Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller, book cover

Our Endless Numbered Days Summary

by Claire Fuller

3.66 Goodreads · 14k ratingsLiterary Fiction394 pages14-min summary

An isolated eight-year-old, convinced by her survivalist father that the world has ended, slowly unearths the chilling truth of their wilderness exile and the strength to reclaim a life she believed lost.

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By BookBrief EditorialPublished February 2026How we write summaries

Synopsis

Covers the whole plot, including the ending.

Eight-year-old Peggy Hillcoat's survivalist father, James, takes her from their London home, telling her the world has ended. They move to a secluded, self-sufficient life in a remote European forest, marking time only by nature's rhythms. As Peggy gets older, she finds forgotten boots in the woods. This sparks her curiosity, making her question her father's story and their isolation. Her search for the truth leads to a confrontation with James, a desperate escape, and Peggy's return to civilization. Back with her mother, Peggy slowly uncovers the full, traumatic story of her time in the wilderness, her escape, and the dark secret she carries, revealing the impact of her father's deception and her own resilience.
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Atmospheric, Suspenseful, Melancholy, Introspective, Dark
Read it if
You enjoy atmospheric, character-driven literary fiction with a strong sense of place and psychological depth, exploring themes of survival, truth, and manipulation.
Skip it if
You prefer fast-paced thrillers or stories with clear-cut villains and heroes, or if you find stories about child abduction and psychological manipulation too disturbing.

Our Endless Numbered Days Plot Summary

Covers the whole plot, including the ending.

  1. The World Ends

    Eight-year-old Peggy Hillcoat lives a normal life in London with her parents, James and Eleanor. One day, her father, James, a survivalist, takes her on a 'holiday' to a remote, dilapidated cabin in a German forest. When they arrive, James tells Peggy that a 'Great Dying' or 'End of Days' has happened, killing everyone else, including her mother, Eleanor. He convinces her they are the only survivors and must rebuild. Peggy, confused and alone with her father, slowly adapts to their new, isolated life, believing his story.

  2. Life in the Wilderness

    Life in the isolated cabin is primitive and hard. James teaches Peggy survival skills: hunting with snares, foraging for berries and mushrooms, and purifying river water. They live by nature's rhythms, marking time only by the sun and seasons, losing track of specific dates or years. Winters are brutal, with extreme hunger and cold, forcing them to ration supplies. Peggy, though lonely and sometimes scared, internalizes her father's teachings. She grows self-reliant and accepts their 'new world order,' as James reinforces the idea that the outside world is gone.

  3. The Doll and the Journal

    As Peggy gets older, she occasionally finds objects that don't fit James's story. One discovery is a small, preserved doll hidden in the cabin, which James calls a relic from a previous occupant. Later, she finds a hidden journal, though she cannot read much of it, filled with unfamiliar writing and dates that suggest a history before their arrival. These clues plant small doubts in Peggy's mind, creating a subtle conflict between her father's story and the unexplained items she finds. She mostly suppresses these suspicions.

  4. Growing Up and Questioning

    Years pass, and Peggy becomes a young woman. Her isolation has made her resourceful but also naive about the world beyond their forest. Her father, James, becomes more controlling and possessive, especially as she develops physically. Peggy's curiosity, however, cannot be entirely suppressed. She starts to notice inconsistencies in James's stories and his increasingly erratic behavior. The vastness of the forest and her lack of outside interaction begin to weigh on her, making her long for something more, a vague sense that her father's truth might not be the whole truth.

  5. The Boots in the Forest

    A key moment happens when Peggy, during a foraging trip, finds a pair of men's boots near the riverbank. This is a significant find, as James has always said they are the only people left. The boots are too new to be old relics and too distinct to be dismissed. This discovery sparks a strong surge of curiosity and defiance in Peggy. She begins to secretly watch the area, looking for the owner. This act of independent investigation marks a turning point; she starts actively seeking answers beyond her father's imposed reality for the first time.

  6. The Neighbor and the Truth

    Peggy's search for the boots' owner leads her to a small, hidden cabin nearby, where she meets a man named Dieter. Dieter, initially startled, slowly realizes Peggy's situation and, using a mix of German and broken English, begins to tell her the truth. He explains that the world did not end, and her father has held her captive for years. He tells her about a nearby village and offers help, completely shattering James's constructed reality. This revelation is a shock, forcing Peggy to confront the deception she has lived under for so long.

  7. Confrontation and Escape

    Armed with Dieter's revelations, Peggy returns to her cabin and confronts James. The confrontation is explosive. James denies everything, trying to regain control and gaslight her. A violent struggle follows. Peggy, fueled by a decade of suppressed fear and new anger, fights back. In the chaos, James is fatally injured. Terrified and alone, but determined to reach the world Dieter described, Peggy flees the cabin, leaving her father behind, and begins a desperate journey through the forest towards civilization.

  8. Return to Civilization

    After days of wandering, disoriented and malnourished, Peggy is found by a search party near a village. She is taken in, identified, and reunited with her mother, Eleanor, who had believed Peggy was dead or lost for years. The reunion is full of emotion and confusion. Peggy struggles to adapt to modern life, overwhelmed by the sensory overload of civilization and the complex emotions of being with a mother she barely remembers, all while dealing with the trauma of her captivity and her father's death.

  9. The Secret and the Aftermath

    Back with Eleanor, Peggy struggles to tell the full horror of her experience, especially about James's death. She initially omits her role in his demise, burdened by guilt and fear of further rejection. This unspoken secret creates a subtle barrier between her and Eleanor, even as they try to reconnect. Peggy's journey is now about healing and integration, slowly piecing together her identity and learning to trust again, while Eleanor grapples with the truth of James's actions and the daughter who returned to her, changed.

  10. Unraveling the Past

    Through therapy and slow, painful conversations, Eleanor gradually learns the full, harrowing truth of Peggy's captivity, including James's manipulative deception and the final, fatal confrontation. Eleanor is devastated by James's betrayal and the suffering he inflicted on their daughter. With the truth out, Peggy can begin the long process of healing and understanding her trauma. She starts to build a new life, integrating her wilderness skills with the complexities of modern society, and slowly rebuilds her relationship with her mother, forming a bond based on honesty and shared understanding.

Our Endless Numbered Days Characters

Peggy Hillcoat

Protagonist

A young girl abducted by her father, forced to believe the world ended.

Peggy is initially an innocent, impressionable eight-year-old who wholeheartedly believes her father's fabricated narrative of the world's end. Over a decade, she transforms into a resourceful, resilient young woman, shaped by isolation and survival skills. She possesses an innate curiosity that, despite years of suppression, eventually leads her to question her reality. Peggy is deeply affected by her trauma, struggling with trust and identity, but ultimately demonstrates immense courage in her fight for freedom and her subsequent journey of healing.

Relationships: James Hillcoat (Daughter-father; captive-captor; victim-abuser); Eleanor Hillcoat (Daughter-mother; estranged but reuniting); Dieter (Savior/informant)

James Hillcoat

Antagonist

Peggy's survivalist father who abducts and isolates her.

James is a manipulative, obsessive, and deeply disturbed man. Driven by extreme survivalist ideologies and a profound distrust of society, he orchestrates Peggy's abduction and constructs an elaborate lie to keep her isolated and under his control. He is charismatic enough to initially convince Peggy of his narrative but becomes increasingly possessive and volatile as she grows older. His actions are rooted in a desire for absolute control and a distorted view of 'protecting' his daughter, ultimately leading to his demise.

Relationships: Peggy Hillcoat (Father-daughter; captor-captive; abuser); Eleanor Hillcoat (Husband-wife; estranged due to his actions)

Eleanor Hillcoat

Supporting

Peggy's mother, who never gives up hope of finding her daughter.

Eleanor is Peggy's loving mother, who is devastated by her daughter's disappearance and James's betrayal. She spends years grieving and searching, refusing to accept Peggy's death. When Peggy returns, Eleanor faces the challenge of reconnecting with a daughter who has been profoundly changed by trauma and who is initially unable to share the full truth. She is patient, resilient, and committed to helping Peggy heal, demonstrating immense strength and unconditional love.

Relationships: Peggy Hillcoat (Mother-daughter; reuniting and healing); James Hillcoat (Estranged husband; betrayed by his actions)

Dieter

Supporting

A local man who helps Peggy escape her captivity.

Dieter is a solitary, kind-hearted man living in a nearby cabin in the German forest. He is the first person Peggy encounters outside of her father and plays a crucial role in revealing the truth about her captivity. Despite the language barrier, he understands Peggy's distress and bravely offers her help and guidance, setting her on the path to freedom. He represents the kindness and reality of the world James tried to erase.

Relationships: Peggy Hillcoat (Helper/rescuer)

The Doll (Liesel)

Mentioned

A hidden doll that hints at a past before Peggy.

The doll, later named Liesel by Peggy, is a significant object found in the cabin. It belongs to a previous occupant, a young girl named Liesel who was also held captive by James years earlier. The doll serves as an early, though ununderstood, clue to James's past deceptions and the true nature of the cabin. It symbolizes the hidden histories and the cyclical nature of James's abuse, hinting at the depths of his depravity even before Peggy fully grasps it.

Relationships: Peggy Hillcoat (Object of discovery and comfort); Liesel (Previous owner/victim)

Our Endless Numbered Days Themes

Control and Manipulation

The novel explores the nature of control and manipulation, mainly through James's actions. He creates an elaborate lie, convincing Peggy the world has ended, to control her life, thoughts, and reality. His manipulation includes isolating her, dictating her education, and trying to control her emotions. This theme is clear in how James uses fear and a fabricated story to keep Peggy captive, taking away her autonomy and sense of self until she questions his authority after finding the boots and meeting Dieter.

“He said the world had died, and I was all he had left. And I believed him. I believed him for so long.”
Peggy (narrator)

The Nature of Reality and Truth

A central theme is the subjective nature of reality, especially when shaped by a powerful, deceptive authority figure. For years, James constructs Peggy's entire reality, making her doubt her perceptions when inconsistencies appear. The discovery of the boots and her meeting with Dieter force her to confront the shocking truth that her 'world' was a lie. This theme shows how easily truth can be distorted and how hard it is to reclaim one's own reality after prolonged gaslighting and manipulation, as seen in Peggy's struggle to adjust to the real world.

“What if the truth was just another story, told by someone else?”
Peggy (narrator)

Survival and Resilience

The novel shows the human spirit's capacity for survival and resilience in extreme circumstances. Peggy not only physically survives a decade in harsh wilderness conditions but also mentally and emotionally endures psychological abuse. Her ability to learn survival skills, adapt to isolation, and find the strength to confront her captor shows immense inner fortitude. Even after her escape, her resilience is tested as she navigates healing from trauma and integrating back into a society she barely remembers, showing her will to live and thrive.

“I had learned to live in the forest, and I would learn to live again in the world outside.”
Peggy (narrator)

Mother-Daughter Bonds

The profound and lasting nature of the mother-daughter bond is a significant element. Eleanor's relentless search for Peggy and her refusal to give up hope show her deep maternal love. When Peggy returns, the theme explores the challenges of rebuilding a severed bond, especially when one person has endured severe trauma and the other carries years of grief and unanswered questions. Their journey of reconnection is slow and painful, needing patience and understanding, ultimately strengthening their relationship as they heal together.

“I knew she was my mother, even if I couldn't remember her face. It was a feeling, deep inside me.”
Peggy (narrator)

Plot Devices & Literary Techniques

First-Person Narration

The story is told entirely from Peggy's perspective.

The use of first-person narration is crucial, as it immerses the reader directly into Peggy's subjective experience. We see the world through her eyes, initially believing James's lies alongside her, which amplifies the shock and betrayal when the truth is revealed. This perspective effectively conveys her isolation, confusion, and gradual dawning of suspicion, making her journey of discovery and healing intensely personal and impactful. It also highlights the insidious nature of gaslighting, as her internal monologue reflects her struggle to reconcile her father's narrative with her own observations.

The Remote Cabin

A physical setting that symbolizes isolation and captivity.

The remote cabin in the German forest functions as more than just a setting; it is a potent symbol of Peggy's complete isolation and captivity. Its dilapidated state reflects the brokenness of James's mind and the life he forces upon Peggy. The cabin walls literally and figuratively enclose Peggy, cutting her off from the outside world and any alternative truths. As Peggy grows older, the cabin transforms from a perceived sanctuary into a prison, embodying the psychological cage James builds around her. Its eventual abandonment by Peggy signifies her breaking free from that captivity.

The Found Objects (Boots, Doll, Journal)

Objects that serve as clues to the truth and catalysts for discovery.

Various objects found by Peggy throughout her captivity act as crucial plot devices. The hidden doll (Liesel's doll) and the journal are early, subtle hints that James's story is incomplete, planting seeds of doubt in Peggy's mind. Most significantly, the pair of men's boots discovered near the river is the catalyst for Peggy's active investigation. These objects provide tangible evidence that contradicts James's narrative, forcing Peggy to question her reality and ultimately leading her to seek out the truth, driving the plot forward from passive acceptance to active rebellion.

Foreshadowing

Subtle hints throughout the narrative that all is not as it seems.

Foreshadowing is employed through various subtle clues that hint at James's deception long before Peggy fully understands it. These include James's overly strict rules, his intense possessiveness, the discovery of the doll and the journal, and his increasingly erratic behavior. These small inconsistencies and unsettling details create a growing sense of unease for both Peggy and the reader, building suspense and preparing for the eventual revelation of the 'Great Dying' as a lie. It makes the ultimate twist feel earned rather than abrupt.

Our Endless Numbered Days Quotes

“There are no other people in the world, Peggy. Just us. We have to make our own world, you and I.”
Peggy's father tells her this after they arrive at the cabin in the woods, convincing her they are the last people on Earth.
“He told me that the outside world had been destroyed, that a plague had wiped out everyone.”
Peggy recalls her father's initial explanation for their retreat into the wilderness.
“We lived by the sun and the moon and the rain. We lived by the rules he made up.”
Peggy describes their existence in the cabin, governed entirely by her father.
“He taught me how to make a fire, how to catch fish, how to set snares. He taught me everything I needed to know to survive.”
Peggy reflects on the practical skills her father imparted during their time in the woods.
“The silence was absolute, broken only by the rustle of leaves or the call of a bird. It was a silence that could make you mad.”
Peggy describes the profound quiet of the forest, hinting at its psychological impact.
“I was his little bird, his only companion, his reason for everything.”
Peggy internalizes her role in her father's fabricated world.
“Sometimes I would forget what my mother looked like, or what her voice sounded like. It was like she was a dream.”
Peggy struggles with fading memories of her life before the woods.
“He always said that stories were powerful, that they could change everything.”
Peggy recalls her father's belief in the power of narrative, ironic given his own deceptive storytelling.
“The forest was both my prison and my protector.”
Peggy describes her complex relationship with the wilderness.
“I often wondered if I was the only one who remembered the world before.”
Peggy questions the reality of her father's claims and her own memories.
“He had built a cage around me, but he had also taught me how to fly.”
Peggy reflects on the contradictory nature of her father's influence.
“The truth was a slippery thing, hard to catch and even harder to hold onto.”
Peggy meditates on the elusive nature of truth after discovering the reality of her situation.
“I was a wild thing, untamed, but yearning for something I couldn't name.”
Peggy describes her internal state after her return to civilization.
“Every day was a numbered day, a gift, a chance to begin again.”
Peggy reflects on the title of the book and her new perspective on life.

Quiz

10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.

  1. Question 1

    Where does James tell Peggy they are going when he first takes her from London?

    1. To a new house in a different city
    2. To a remote hut in the woods
    3. On a long holiday abroad
    4. To visit her grandparents in the countryside
    Show answer

    B. To a remote hut in the woods James takes Peggy to a remote hut in the woods, telling her the world outside has been destroyed.

  2. Question 2

    What lie does James tell Peggy to explain their isolation and the lack of other people?

    1. That everyone else has moved to another country
    2. That they are on a secret mission for the government
    3. That the rest of the world has been destroyed
    4. That they are hiding from dangerous criminals
    Show answer

    C. That the rest of the world has been destroyed James tells Peggy that the rest of the world has been destroyed, justifying their solitary existence.

  3. Question 3

    What object does Peggy find in the forest that prompts her to question their situation?

    1. A discarded toy
    2. A pair of boots
    3. An old newspaper
    4. A lost backpack
    Show answer

    B. A pair of boots Peggy finds a pair of boots in the forest, which leads her to search for their owner and unravel the truth.

  4. Question 4

    How do Peggy and James primarily mark the passage of time in the wilderness?

    1. By a calendar they brought with them
    2. By the sun and the seasons
    3. By counting the days on a stick
    4. By listening to a radio signal
    Show answer

    B. By the sun and the seasons They mark their days only by the sun and the seasons, highlighting their isolation from conventional timekeeping.

  5. Question 5

    What is James's primary motivation for taking Peggy to the woods?

    1. To escape financial problems in London
    2. To protect her from a supposed global catastrophe
    3. To teach her survival skills
    4. To avoid his responsibilities to Peggy's mother
    Show answer

    B. To protect her from a supposed global catastrophe James, a survivalist, takes Peggy to the woods under the pretense of protecting her from a world he claims has been destroyed.

  6. Question 6

    What is the initial emotional state of Peggy when she is first taken to the woods?

    1. Fearful and resistant
    2. Confused but compliant
    3. Excited and adventurous
    4. Angry and rebellious
    Show answer

    B. Confused but compliant As an eight-year-old, Peggy is initially confused by the situation but complies with her father's instructions, believing his story.

  7. Question 7

    What is the 'secret' that Peggy carries with her after returning to civilization, hinted at in the synopsis?

    1. The exact location of the hut in the woods
    2. The truth about what happened to James on their last night in the woods
    3. The identity of another person they encountered in the woods
    4. Details about a hidden treasure James buried
    Show answer

    B. The truth about what happened to James on their last night in the woods The synopsis states that Peggy's mother learns 'of what happened to James on the last night out in the woods, and of the secret that Peggy has carried with her ever since,' implying a significant event related to James's fate.

  8. Question 8

    What is the primary theme explored through Peggy's journey from isolation to return?

    1. The dangers of modern technology
    2. The resilience of the human spirit and the search for truth
    3. The importance of strict parenting
    4. The beauty of untouched wilderness
    Show answer

    B. The resilience of the human spirit and the search for truth Peggy's journey, from being manipulated and isolated to discovering the truth and finding the strength to return, strongly highlights themes of resilience and the search for truth.

  9. Question 9

    What does Peggy's decision to search for the owner of the boots signify about her character development?

    1. Her increasing distrust of her father's stories
    2. Her desire to make new friends
    3. Her growing interest in fashion
    4. Her acceptance of their isolated life
    Show answer

    A. Her increasing distrust of her father's stories The boots are an external sign of other people, prompting Peggy to question her father's narrative and ultimately unraveling his deception, indicating her growing distrust and critical thinking.

  10. Question 10

    The novel's title, 'Our Endless Numbered Days,' likely alludes to what aspect of Peggy's experience?

    1. The vast number of days she spent in the wilderness, uncounted by conventional means
    2. The endless supply of food they managed to gather each day
    3. The infinite possibilities of life in the wild
    4. The repetitive nature of their daily chores in the hut
    Show answer

    A. The vast number of days she spent in the wilderness, uncounted by conventional means The title refers to the long, undifferentiated period Peggy spends in the wilderness, where days are marked only by the sun and seasons, making them 'endless' and yet 'numbered' in their simple progression.

Our Endless Numbered Days FAQ

What is the core premise of 'Our Endless Numbered Days'?

The novel centers on eight-year-old Peggy Hillcoat, who is taken by her survivalist father, James, to a remote hut in the German wilderness. He convinces her that the world outside has ended, forcing them to live a primitive existence sustained by hunting and gathering, isolated from civilization for years.

Who are the main characters in the story?

The primary characters are Peggy Hillcoat, an impressionable young girl who grows up believing in her father's fabricated apocalypse, and her father, James, a man with a complex past who orchestrates their isolation. Peggy's mother, Ute, is also a significant character, appearing in flashbacks and in the story's aftermath.

How does Peggy eventually realize her father's deception?

Peggy's realization begins when she discovers a pair of boots near their hut, suggesting another person's presence. This discovery, coupled with other subtle clues and her growing maturity, prompts her to question James's narrative and eventually leads her to actively seek out the truth about their isolation.

What is the setting for the majority of the book?

The bulk of the narrative takes place in a remote, dilapidated hut deep within a German forest, far from any signs of civilization. This isolated wilderness serves as both a prison and a home for Peggy and James, shaping their daily lives and their relationship.

What is the ultimate fate of James?

James meets his end in the woods, the circumstances of which are revealed through Peggy's fragmented memories and later confirmed. His death occurs during Peggy's escape, a direct consequence of her burgeoning independence and the unraveling of his control over her.

What is the 'secret' Peggy carries with her after her return?

The 'secret' Peggy carries is the precise truth of what happened to James on their last night in the woods. This secret involves her direct role in his death and the complex emotional aftermath of her escape, which she initially struggles to articulate to her mother.

Are there clues early in the book that hint at James's deception?

Yes, subtle clues include James's inconsistent stories, his extreme paranoia about the 'outside world,' and the fact that they never encounter other survivors or evidence of a destroyed civilization. His meticulous planning of their isolated life also suggests a premeditated act rather than a reaction to a genuine catastrophe.

What is the significance of the doll, Gretel, in Peggy's story?

Gretel, Peggy's doll, serves as a silent confidante and a symbol of her lost childhood and imagination. Peggy often talks to Gretel, projecting her fears and hopes onto her, and the doll represents a tangible link to the world she left behind and her inner emotional life.

How does James's past inform his decision to take Peggy into the woods?

James's past reveals a history of paranoia, a desire for control, and a deep-seated distrust of society. His survivalist tendencies and perhaps unresolved trauma or mental health issues contribute to his belief that he could create a 'safer' world for Peggy, even if it meant fabricating an apocalypse.

Describe Peggy's psychological development while isolated with James.

Peggy initially internalizes James's reality, developing a strong survival instinct but also a skewed understanding of the world. As she matures, her critical thinking emerges, leading to intense internal conflict as she grapples with the truth and the psychological toll of her father's manipulation.

How does Peggy's relationship with her mother, Ute, evolve after her return?

After her return, Peggy's relationship with Ute is fraught with unspoken trauma and a desperate need for reconnection. Ute struggles to understand the extent of Peggy's ordeal, while Peggy struggles to articulate her experiences and the secret she holds, leading to a complex and fragile rebuilding of their bond.

What psychological impact does the isolation have on Peggy long-term?

The isolation leaves Peggy with deep psychological scars, including difficulty trusting others, a distorted sense of reality, and potential PTSD. Her experience shapes her identity, making her both resilient and vulnerable, and she must learn to navigate a world she was taught no longer existed.

Is James a purely villainous character, or is there room for a more nuanced interpretation?

While James's actions are undeniably harmful and manipulative, the novel invites a nuanced interpretation. His motivations may stem from a misguided desire to protect Peggy, coupled with his own psychological vulnerabilities and a profound fear of the outside world, rather than pure malice.

How does the novel explore themes of memory and trauma?

The novel profoundly explores memory and trauma through Peggy's fragmented recollections of her time in the woods. Her journey back to civilization involves piecing together her past, confronting the traumatic events, and understanding how memory can be suppressed, distorted, and eventually healed.

What is the significance of the title, 'Our Endless Numbered Days'?

The title refers to the paradox of their existence: days that feel endless in their isolation, yet are meticulously 'numbered' by James's fabricated calendar and their survival routine. It also alludes to the finite nature of their time together and the eventual end of his control over Peggy.

Could Peggy have escaped earlier, or was her timing crucial to her survival?

Peggy's escape timing is crucial; an earlier attempt might have been unsuccessful due to her age and dependence on James. Her growing maturity, the discovery of the boots, and the erosion of James's control all contributed to her readiness and ability to finally take action and survive the ordeal.

What role does the natural world play in the narrative?

The natural world is both a harsh adversary and a source of solace for Peggy. It provides their sustenance and serves as a constant backdrop to their struggle, but also represents freedom and the untamed reality outside James's fabricated world, ultimately aiding Peggy's escape.

About the author

Claire Fuller

Claire Fuller

Claire Fuller is a critically acclaimed author known for her evocative prose and exploration of complex human relationships. Her debut novel, 'Our Endless Numbered Days,' won the 2015 Desmond Elliott Prize. Fuller's work often delves into themes of isolation, memory, and the natural world, establishing her as a significant voice in contemporary fiction.

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