def _get_lines(filename):
    """Returns a list of lines from 'filename', joining any line ending in \\
    with the following line."""
    with open(filename, "r") as f:
        lines = []
        accum = ""
        for line in f:
            if line.endswith("\\\n"):
                accum += line[:-2]
            else:
                lines.append(accum + line)
                accum = ""
        return lines