var plImages = {}; 

function preloadImages(images, start, num) { 
        var i=start;
        for (; i < images.length && i < start + num; i++) { 
				if (!(images[i] in plImages)) {
					var ni = new Image(); 
					ni.src = images[i]; 
					plImages[images[i]] = ni;
				}
        } 
} 

function getImage(name) {
	return plImages[name];
}