History †MapQuest Chapters Essay

WebQuest Chapter 19 The Pullman learn 1. ) George Pullman explained that the get aheads of having his thespians living in his comp both town was that he believed that the surroundings would shift the workers from the Feeling of discontent which Characterized the American Workman. This would protect his company from the economic loss that the discontented worker would suffer if he was living on a lower floor bad conditions. He overly took the rent that was due directly appear of the paychecks of his employees. 2. ) The readings do non state a dollar amount for the periodic wage.The Parable of Pullman states that the workers wages were close to subsistence level. The amount of the pay spread out averaged 25% 3. ) Eugene Deb was a Locomotive Fireman. It was under him that the American railroad joint was organized in June of 1893. He was the president of the ARU. It was a single brass that represented all types of railroad employees. In August of 1893 they had had success everywhere the Great Northern Railway in a wage cut dispute. The Pullman workers in like manner joined the ARU. When they went on strike in May of 1894, the ARU support the strike and it became a nationwide strike between railroads and the American Railway Union.After the strike was broken by federal intervention, Debs was jailed for half a dozen months for his role in the strike,, specifically for violating a federal injunction and hinder with the mail. 4. ) The strike ended because the ARU members had refused to work any train that had Pullmans cars include in it. The companies purposefully attached Pullman cars to mail trains. This caused the mail to be delayed. The turn out was the federal Govern manpowert issuing an injunction and President Cleveland sending Federal troops to enforce it, in order to stop the mail delay.A yellow dog contract is a contract that a worker signs promising non to join a labor union fleck he is an employee of the company who holds the contract. 5. ) The appellants had been refused employment, had no viable way to leave the townspeople of Pullman, and their families were starving. Instead of employing these individuals, Pullman had brought in substitute workers. Governor Altgeld wrote Pullman a earn fundamentally stating that he should bear roughly responsibility for the plight of those in his town. He also stated that he was going to conduct a private investigation. He made good on his word for the investigation.6. ) The investigations found that the letter of complaint was indeed valid. There were 1600 families that were without the basic necessities of life, such as food. The investigators also found that there were 600 new workers but 1600 old workers that were still unemployed. biography rapscallion 2 of 3 7. ) Pullman blamed the workers for their plight, stating that if they had not gone on strike, they would not be suffering. WebQuest Chapter 20 The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 1. ) The work force was mainly made u p of young immigrant women. There were also men employed, and boys as elevator attendants.There were other boys and girls present during the fire. 2. ) There were a total of 146 people who died in the fire. Most of these were young women. The readings do not break out the deaths by gender. There were also men and boys who died in the fire. About a third jumped from the ledges to avoid burning to death. The rest died of burns, some at their sewing machines. 3. ) The exit doors on the ninth floor were locked, seemingly to prevent employee theft. The one fire exit that was available was inadequate for the issue forth of workers. The conditions existed because fire inspections and precautions were inadequate.The workers feared that if they spoke out about the conditions, that they would lose their job. Economics also played a role in why the conditions were not corrected. 4. ) The citizens of unfermented York, from every physical and economic part of the City, demanded justice. Worke rs offered testimony and support. There were protests in the streets. They demanded a safer work environment. 5. ) The unions became strong after this tragedy. Many workers saw the benefit in having an organization speak on their behalf. The other legacy is the construct codes and worker safety legislation that was passed after the fire.WebQuest Chapter 22 The Platt Amendment 1. ) The Platt Amendment was attached to the Cuban Constitution. The Cuban Government, with reluctance, included the amendment in their constitution. The united States was already occupying Cuba. The unite States was not going to relinquish any control without the amendment in place. 2. ) The Platt Amendment was drafted by monument of War Elihu Root, and presented by Senator Orville Platt. It was attached as a rider to the array Appropriations Bill of 1901. The intent was to protect Cuba from foreign intervention and allow the United States to exercise authority in Cuba if the situation warranted it.It was passed by the Senate HISTORY PAGE 3 of 3 3. ) The Platt Amendment barred Cuba from going into debt, making treaties with other nations that gave those nations any power over Cuban affairs, or stopping the US from creating a sanitation system. It restricted Cuban Sovereignty by giving the United States broad latitude of power over the domestic and foreign traffic of Cuba. 4. ) The Platt Amendment was used by the United States as an excuse for intervention in Cuba in 1906, 1912, 1917, and 1920. The Platt Amendment was also used for the creation of the base at Guantanamo Bay. 5.) The Cubans were un allowing to attach it to their Constitution. They feared rampant US intervention. Widespread criticism of the amendment and rising nationalism in Cuba resulted in President Franklin Roosevelts repeal of the Amendment in 1934, turf out for the lease of Guantanamo Bay. 6. ) Whereas the Platt Amendment specifically provided causes for the intervention in Cuba by the United States, the cas hier Amendment stated that the United States disclaims sovereign claims to Cuba, and will leave control of the island to the Cubans, and will not claim jurisdiction. The two documents are in sharp secern to one another.

International Market Entry Methods

ExportingExporting is the read sale of goods and / or services in an separate expanse. It is possibly the best-known method of entry a contrasted market, as well as the lowest risk. It whitethorn also be cost-effective as you stomach not fill to invest in production facilities in your chosen country any goods are still produced in your home country indeed displace to foreign countries for sale. However, rising transportation costs are likely to increase the cost of merchandiseing in the near future.The majority of costs complicated with exporting come from marketing expenses. Usually, you will need the involvement of quaternion parties your business, an importer, a transport provider and the g overnment of the country of which you wish to export to.LicensingLicensing allows another social club in your target country to use your spot. The property in question is normally intangible for example, trademarks, production techniques or patents. The licensee will pay a fee in order to be allowed the function to use the property.Licensing requires very little enthronement and can provide a high return on enthronization. The licensee will also take commission of any manufacturing and marketing costs in the foreign market.FranchisingFranchising is many(a)what same to licensing in that intellectual property rights are sold to a franchisee. However, the rules for how the franchisee carries bulge business are usually very strict for example, any processes must(prenominal) be followed, or limited components must be used in manufacturing.Joint ventureA joint venture consists of two companies establishing a jointly-owned business. One of the owners will be a local business (local to the foreign market). The two companies would then provide the new business with a management team and share deem of the joint venture.There are several benefits to this type of venture. It allows you the benefit of local friendship of a foreign market and allows you to share costs. However, there are some issues there can be problems with deciding who invests what and how to split profits.Foreign direct investmentForeign direct investment (FDI) is when you directly invest in facilities in a foreign market. It requires a lot of capital to cover costs such as premises, technology and staff. FDI can be done either by establishing a new venture or acquiring an existing company.Wholly owned subsidiaryA all in all owned subsidiary (WOS) is somewhat similar to foreign direct investment in that money goes into a foreign company but sooner of money being invested into another company, with a WOS the foreign business is bought outright. It is then up to the owners whether it continues to run as before or they take more(prenominal) control of the WOS.PiggybackingPiggybacking involves two non-competing companies working together to cross-sell the others products or services in their home country. Although it is a low-risk method involving little capital, some companies may not be comfortable with this method as it involves a high degree of trust as well as allowing the associate company to take a large degree of control over how your product is marketed abroad.Turnkey projectsA turnkey project refers to a project when clients pay contractors to visualize and construct new facilities and train personnel. A turnkey project is mode for a foreign company to export its process and technology to other countries by building a plant in that country. Industrial companies that qualify in complex production technologies normally use turnkey projects as an entry strategy. One of the major advantages of turnkey projects is the possibility for a company to establish a plant and earn profits in a foreign country especially in which foreign direct investment opportunities are limited and lack of expertise in a specific area exists.Potential disadvantages of a turnkey project for a company allow risk of revealing companies secrets to rivals, an d takeover of their plant by the host country. introduction a market with a turnkey project CAN testify that a company has no long-term interest in the country which can become a disadvantage if the country proves to be the principal(prenominal) market for the output of the exported process.

Article Review Draft

I am reviewing books that relates to my query paper of how the Information genealogy affects the employment rate in the logistics field. I curb assembled 16 individual books, obligates, and or sources that give support me in my research of my hypothesis. My goal of this review is to properly order and summarize the information pay back accumulated, and to determine areas in which further research and centralise is required (Crewel, 2014). The starting line cla drug abuse that is going to be absolutely critical to my research is the actors assistant of Labor Statistics (2015) Occupational employment statistics estimates.This isnt an hold but more specifically a selective informationbase of information collected by U. S. Overpayment organizations in order to search nationwide employment rates. The data is collected on a periodical basis by the U. S. Census sanction and from a sampling Of 60 thousand households. The employment databases goes back to 1942, however for pu rposes of my study I go forth just use recent information from the last 10-15 years. While this data is subjective, it offers strong set of supporting historical employment trends in logistics occupational group fields, and is the current standard in U. S. Employment information (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). In a research term by (Anderson, German, & Scrum, 1 997), the authors look to translate empirical research into the stupors of downsizing or cut back the amount of employees on logistics performance. Two main conclusions are reached companies that accept cropd their logistics workforce have a perception of improved logistics performance but in world they have the same indicators as firms that have not reduced their workforce. The new(prenominal) conclusion is the simplification of workforce contributes greatly to the lack of loyalty, decreased moral, and immensely increased stress levels.This article provides interesting argument that tit firms var. to reduce employee number totals reduction equally increases negative purviews as well. The article (Jackson, 2001 ) clarifies the beginning of the Internet age and details what and when it came into existence, as we know it today. The education of the Internet was a col restrictionative team research effort created in U. S. Governmental agencies around 1960. The Internet was not a vi adequate to(p) extract for civilian society until 1990. This article leave behind allow me to accurately focus on the proper time frame of Internet availability to the logistics community.I will not rely solely on the information in this article and back up the findings of this article with the data in a connatural Internet origin articles. Additionally this article makes clear that the many supporting technologies and infrastructure developments positively contributed to the advent of the Internet. In the article by (Laser, 2004), he explores the ways and methods that the Internet, computers, and software with communications affect logistics and specifically transportation. This study confirms the bulky grandeur of technology in revolutionize modern logistics areas.One beta aspect of this particular article is the mint that no proposition the technological innovation, status still drives transportation speed, timeliness and efficacy. I dejection utilize this important realization with other aspects of research and technology application and ensure my versed bias is reduced. The key takeaway I came away with is that no matter how much information or data is improved the location and blank space of transporting goods and materials will always persist. The article One on One by (Roberts, 2004) is an interview with the vice president of the company Oracle, Greg Tennyson.This interview captures the strategies ND supplement of technologies in order to increase profitability of logistics operations within the demesne of shipping raw materials globally. Specifically useful to my re search is the discussion of publication logistics operations. Offspring is described as transitioning logistics operations from the L . S. To overseas markets, which offer vastly cheaper labor and trade restrictions. India is a primary market utilized by Oracle in this article. I believe that the perspective of cheaper overseas labor tushnot be mistaken for the advances in informational technologies.This article will further reduction of y bias by tempering it with different empirical data supporting a theory that labor reductions in logistics may be due to cheaper labor in different regions of the globe. Despite the increase of offspring, the article still reiterates the central importance of communications technologies in order to sync the complex and intricate global transactions. The article from (Atkinson, 1 999) discusses the impost of communications and web-based technologies in order to develop logistics cost savings.The specific technology discussed in this article is Collaborative, Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CUFF). CUFF is the Internet based communications business solution utilized by many fortune five hundred companies today including Wall-Mart. The article details the successes of this technology from a cost savings perspective. The key point of this study in relation to my research is the importance of communications, not only externally to a logistics company, but internal as well. Communication enables timely delivery of information and ensures needs are forecasted and met.Technology and mechanisation coupled with advanced communications technology is integral with the future Of logistics. In another article from (Atkinson, 1999), the author cuisses the expansion of the Internet in the logistics celestial sphere and the development and maturation of E-commerce. E-commerce is commerce that takes place between two or more organizations electronically. Early on in the inception of the Internet, many logistics companies were p ast(a) to employ Internet based technologies in fear of security issues.Those companies that master the web-based technologies were rewarded by reduction in costs and labor efficiencies. The main education point of this article is the fact that it correlates using technology and the Internet with reducing labor forces and Ewing more productive with less people employed. With the article by (McGovern, 1998), it is undeniable that the Internet is a crucial area for growth in logistics sectors. The only argument about the Internet as it pertains to the logistics industry is how to devote and utilize it in the best manner possible.The main issue with this article in regards to my research is the fact that it pertains mainly to visibility and communication and does not include hard data with employment statistics. While can use the perspective and insight provided additional support with numerical data will be more relevant to use in my study. I can always use and improve upon the info rmation provided in this study. The article is preferably old (1998) in reference to the subject of my research.I will be able to use all information here as either pre or post Internet and in that way even older articles can provide much-needed context. With infill article by (Williams, 2001) he provides additional support to the origins of the Internet. This article analyzes tether components of logistics, inventory control, order processing and transportation. The Internet impacts all three areas in positive ways in the article. One area this article could be of more assistance to my research reports is again more usage of empirical data and numerical figures on employment and how that relates to performance.In conclusion the articles summarized unneurotic present a consistent gap of research in regards to how informational technologies impact the employment of logistics employees. I believe can utilize the data surveys from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and incorporate suppo rting documentation to identify that informational technologies did and continue to reduce employment opportunities within the united States of America. Can continue to refine my literature or more clearly define the scope of my research interrogation in order o synchronize the availability of research getable at this time.

Personal Strengths and Weaknesses Essay

This paper concerns the ain strengths and weakness of my avouch emotional state. The detail I will be presenting are what I consider my crush and worst strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of this paper is to clearly define each of these and account out a way to learn how to solve my weaknesses and make my strengths regular stronger.Identifying personal strengths and weaknesses are essential part of the all overall learning processes. however as we understand which methods and techniques help us to learn at an best level, understanding our strengths and weaknesses help us to become to a greater extent(prenominal) self advised and well-rounded individuals. I conceptualize that life is our personal experiences and everyone has certain attributes with their personal strengths and weaknesses. . Being witting of what are my best strengths can help me repress my worst weaknesses. In the past, I have had a hard quantify recognizing my weakness but as you get older, you bec ome more aware of your weaknesses. I feel that recognizing your strengths and weaknesses is what makes you a successful person in whatever aspects of your life.I feel that one of my greatest strengths is that I love to learn. livelihood to meis a never-ending learning experience. As we go through our life it is vital that we learn who we are and have the ability to grow from our own strengths and weaknesses. I feel by overcoming my weaknesses and reinforcing my strengths that I will become more successful in both my personal and professional life.My strengths, which include dear(p) analytical skills, and good computer skills, are offset by my weaknesses, which is cunctation and dreadful writing and grammar skills.I believe one of my greatest strengths is my analytical skills. I love giveing with total and figuring out mixed problems. This is why I chose Accounting for my profession. I love working with numbers and figuring things out. Very few people love working in accountin g.Another of my strengths is my computer skill. I am a very unbendable learner when it comes to figuring out new computer software or hardware. This stems from my husband who I have learned a lot from over the past eight years. His profession is in the computer software business. a good deal the people I work with will turn to me for help with configuring their computers or formatting a Word document.I had a difficult condemnation narrowing this list to just one or two faults that I would mention here. My one of my most weaknesses is that I am a major(ip) procrastinator. Over the past few years, I have tried to work on this fault by reading books and lectures. I feel the wholly way to stop procrastinating is through determination, commitment, and a desire to change. I believe I possess the determination and desire, and I commit today to oblige myself to making this change in my personality.I feel that this next weakness can either be considered a fault or a strength and that is organization. I am a compulsive organizer and sometimes that tends to slow me down on projects. It also takes time away from my children because I am such a perfectionist and organizer.I do not cypher anyone is perfect but I do think we all sift to be our best. The first step is to improve our weaknesses by learning from them everyday. I think that by using are strengths to improve our weaknesses would be a very efficient process we all could learn. I think that pickings this class will definitely improve my weaknesses and help me learn more about my strengthsBoth my personal and professional life.

Health Care in India

wellness cargon is the treatment and prevention of illness. Health c ar is delivered by professionals in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and allied health. The delivery of red-brick health deal out depends on an expanding group of trained professionals coming in concert as an interdisciplinary team. The health tutelage industry in corporeals several sectors that are dedicated to providing function and products dedicated to improving the health of individuals.According to industry and commercialize consortifications, such as the Global fabrication Classification Standard and the manufacture Classification Benchmark, the health care industry includes health care equipment and helps as well as pharmaceutics, biotechnology and life sciences. The particular sectors associated with these groups are biotechnology, diagnostic substances, drug delivery, drug manufacturers, hospitals, medical equipment and instruments, diagnostic laboratories, nursing homes, providers of heal th care plans and home health care.The rate of growth of the health care industry in India is moving ahead neck to neck with the pharmaceutical industry and the software industry of the country. Much has been said and d iodin in the health care sector for bringing about improvement. Till date, most 12% of the scope offered by the health care industry in India has been tapped. The health care industry in India is reckoned to be the engine of the rescue in the years to come.Health care industry in India is worth $17 one thousand thousand and is anticipated to grow by 13% every year. The health care sector encompasses health care instruments, health care in the retail marketplace, hospitals enrolled to the hospital networks etc. India in case of health care facilities still lakes the adequate supply. In health care sector in any case there is huge gap between motivation and supply at all the levels of society. Still there are so many urban areas were you could hardly find any mu lti specialty hospital.And in case of metros the market sentiments itself created a need of psychological consultation. Healthcare, which is a US$ 35 billion industry in India, is expected to reach over US$ 75 billion by 2012 and US$ 150 billion by 2017. The health care industry is interestingly poised as it strives to emerge as a global hub due to the distinct advantages it enjoys in clinical excellence and disordered costs. In todays highly competitive environment, hospitals are more and more realizing the need to focus on ervice quality as a visor to improve their competitive position. Customer based determinants and perceptions of service quality, therefore, play an of the essence(p) role when choosing a hospital. Today the healthcare industry has emerged as one of the most challenging sectors as well as one of the largest service sector industries in India with estimated revenue of about US $ 30 billion constituting 5% of the GDP. India is one of the second most populous na tions of our world with a population of over a billion.The Indian economy over the new-fangled past has started looking up and has now decidedly been acknowledged as likely to contribute to the sustained economic growth. The Indian healthcare Industry though still nascent in size and dynamic compared to former(a) countries has also benefited from this economic boom. The primary driving force for an enhanced demand for quality healthcare standards are the 300 million middle class populations. Their need of quality within acceptable costs is making corporate hospitals see reason in reducing tariffs with a view to thread volumes.

Swastika–a Symbol of Good and Evil

SOCS350-ON November 7, 2008 THE SWASTIKA-A emblem OF GOOD AND EVIL The hackenkreuz, gamma cross, gammadion, St. Brigits cross, fylfot cross and swastika atomic number 18 all references to one symbol, the oldest cross in the world. This symbol is represented several(prenominal) thousand social classs B. C. in multiple cultures. It is not until the 1900s that the name swastika elicits such a fervor of emotions. It is interesting to contrast the view crowns of the Chinese community versus the enormity of human passion that ensues in a Judaic community when the symbol is displayed.As cited in Chinese Symbols Common louvre Asian Attributes,httpsymbolic-meanings. com/2007/11/01chinese-symbols-commonAncient Chinese symbols and their meanings are a product of a very savvy flock who understood the human need to attainment in their conjunction with their propensity to link positive change with optic/allegorical concepts. The Chinese believe that crises in ones life sentence bring th e opportunity for change. Symbolism is incorporated in the kanji, more normally refer red-faced to as Chinese characters. Kanji, itself means both crises and opportunity.As many people of China embrace the Buddhist religion, it is an opportunity to discuss the swastika from this point of view. As cited in ReligionFacts The Swastika Symbol in Buddhism htt//symbolic-meanings. com/2007/11/01chinese-symbols-common foliate 2 Swastika In Buddhism, the swastika signifies auspiciousness and good tidy sum as well as the Buddhas footprints and the Buddhas heart. The swastika is give tongue to to contain the whole mind of the Buddha and can often be raise imprinted on the chest, feet or palms of Buddha images.It is also the first of the 65 auspicious symbols on the footprint of the Buddha. The swastika will also be found in homes, on the doorways to temples, at the beginning of books, in decorative borders and in article of clothing as well as being carved into Chinese coins. The swastik a is seen as a symbol of luck and life. As cited in NewsFinder. org/ invest/more/swastika The Oldest Known Symbol In Nazi Germany, the swastika became the national symbol.In 1910, a poet and nationalist, Guido von List suggested that the swastika be a symbol for all anti Semitic organizations. On August 7, 1920, at the Salzburg Congress, this flag became the official emblem of the Nazi Party. The actual drawing of the thousands of year old swastika remained the same with one exception after the credence by the Nazisthe exclusive use of the colors black, red and white. The swastika holds a vivid, decent vision for those of the Jewish community.The impact though now changes from positive and serene as seen with the Chinese community to that of arouse up memories of the holocaust, a time of horror and hate. The brief appropriation by the Nazis of the swastika has forever destroyed the positive a Page 3 Swastika and serene interpretation of this symbol for a lot of the world but esp ecially for those of Hebrew belief. So deeply imbedded in the minds of those with an ancestry to Judaism that to merely see the swastika is to re-live the stories of the holocaust, the inhumanity and despair.So powerful a symbol is that the swastika can create havoc on ones limbic system. Though fewer victims are left-hand(a) now from this reign of terror, the legacy lives on to this day and assuredly shall for many generations to come. Two cultures, two moments in time, two opposing interpretations as link to a simple drawing have been discussed. The power is of course not in the drawing, but in the meaning perceived by the drawing. In one culture we see the swastika as life, in the early(a) we see the swastika as a vile destruction of life.

Storm Born Chapter Seven

I couldnt be consistve it when Wil told me he trusted to go excessively. Why did every match little utterly want in on what was probably the most dangerous charge of a lifetime? I sure as hell didnt want to go. Why did they? If yet I could have affordn up my spot.No, I told him. Youll submit yourself landed. I sounded neertheless equal Roland promptly.Yeah, unless you verbalise I wouldnt actu altogethery go in frame. Only my pith would go.Doesnt matter. The spirit is tranquilize your essence, still tied to your being and body. soul does enough damage to it, and then your bodys toast too.He didnt seem to care, which I found ironic for a guy who seemed to be so afraid of everything else. His final argu custodyt was that Jasmine would be scared and traumatized his presence would comfort her in the face of being carted off by more strangers. He had a point, I supposed, nevertheless I warned him he would yet be a reflection in that world, complaint olive-sized re semblance to his hu humans self. She might not whop him. pass judgment this, he remained undaunted, and I decided if he stingere to get himself wipe out(a)ed, that was his problem. So long as he didnt drag me exhaust in the process.I also soree sure he paid me beforehand. Best not to tamp chances.When the appointed night came, I brought Tim with me. Since Wil would not be fitting to go physically, wed motive roughone to watch his body. Tim treated it same press release to summer camp, submiting a tent and a drum and everything. I told him he was an idiot, alone he had grand plans for how he could later consecrate his aggroupies he went on a vision quest. The personal manner he aphorism it, he would sole(prenominal) be half-lying. I could have brought Roland and had a little less absurdity, but I didnt trust him not to sneak in after me. So Tim it was.We drove add together step up of the clo raiseside of town, activateing roaming channels that snaked thr ough and through the desert. Wil waited for us in a secluded spot, outdoor(a) from some of the more public access areas. It was a beautiful night, with the stars and moon ruckle in the sky and saguaros standing(a) watch. in that location were a few early(a) thin spots weighween the worlds I could have dropd, but I chose this one because I wantd the privacy and because it was one of the strongest. I wanted to waste as little power as possible in the transition everyw present, particularly since Id have to sound to bring Wil along.As it was, we had enough trouble even acquire him into a trance.Jesus, I utter irritably, observance him in the dim ignitering, how much coffee did you drink today? He probably didnt even drink coffee. Too many carcinogens or something.Im sorry. He attempted to stay still. Im just so worried ab out(a) her.He lay on a blanket shape up our small campfire, the olfactory perception of burning sage hanging in the air. Tim sat natural covering we ll-nigh the tent with his iPod, smart enough to leave me alone and do my job. With the way Wil kept twitching, I doubted anything short of Valium would calm him down. not that that last would have done us any good.Are there coyotes out here? he demanded. Some have been get alongn to attack humans. until now with a fire. They could have rabies. And snakes Wil Youre wasting our time here. If you faecal mattert calm down soon, Im dismissal without you.Already the crescent moon had get aheaded its zenith I didnt want to transition too long after its descent. At my wits block off, I produced the pendulum and hung it before Wils face. I didnt authentically go for hypnosis, but Id had good results with it in the past for clients needing soul retrieval. Hoping it would work on him, I began walking him through the stages of unconsciousness.It worked. Or maybe just my threat to leave him hindquarters did. Finally, I proverb him fall into a waking sleep, the perfect time for his so ul to loosen from his body. Holding out my wand, I drew his spirit to me so it clung ilk static, felt but not seen. Then, relaxing my own consciousness, I let my mind explode and touch the walls of this world, pushing its limits into the Otherworld as far as I could go. As I expanded out, I held on to an awareness of my body, working straining to bring it over in its entirety. Un standardised so many separates, I was even strong enough to bring new(prenominal) material things my clothes, my weapons.At first nothing seemed to happen, then the landscape around me shimmered, more or less like we were trapped in a heat mirage. My senses blurred, making me feel disoriented, and then my surroundings clarified. I found myself breathless, a wave of dizziness move me. The effects passed quickly. I was pretty good at crossing worlds.Oh my graven image, disenfranchised a vo chalk that sounded vaguely like Wils.Looking to my side, I saw his Otherworldly representation. Not even powerf ul enough to come over in elemental cause, he appeared beside me much like any spirit in my own world would have vague shape, translucent, and smoky.You did it. You really brought us over.Hey, I live to serve.Actually, mistress, that is our job.I turned around and tried to fell my surprise. My minions stood before me but not as I knew them in the human world. In this world, the Otherworld, they were more corporeal, appearing in their natural forms and not as a projected sending.Nandi stood tall and rigid, a black cleaning woman in her mid-forties. Her face had hard lines and angles, beautiful in a regal and hawklike way. achromatic waves of hair framed a face as bleak and unexpressive as her spirit versions.As for Finn, Id expected him to be small and spritelike. He, however, was closely as tall as me with shining, sun-b ripe hair that stuck up at special(a) angles. Freckles covered his face, and the grin he showed me mirrored the amusement I unremarkably saw when we were tog ether in my plane.Volusian sceneed the same as always.I didnt simply know what to say, seeing them like this. It was kind of startling. They watched me silently, waiting for orders. I open my throat, trying to appear haughty. solely right, lets get this moving. Who knows the way to this guys place?They all did, as it turned out. We stood at a crossroads, mirroring the one wed left in my world. The country around us was beautiful, sore and balmy in the even twilight, pleasant in a contrasting way from Tucson. Cherry trees in full bloom lined the roads, shedding pink-white petals to the ground as the snap fastener rustled their leaves.We stand in the Rowan get, mistress, explained Nandi flatly. If we follow this road, we result eventually reach the part of the alder Land where pansy Aeson lives.I glanced at the road. What, no yellow bricks?Nandi didnt get the joke. No. The path is dirt. The journey will be long and must be winn on foot. Likely you will find it tedious and w earying, plunging you into misery and making you wish you had never set out on this quest.Quite the endorsement.She stared at me, puzzled. It was not an endorsement, mistress.We set out, and I discovered in about five minutes that conversation with this group was pointless. So instead I focused on studying my surroundings, like any good soldier would. I had crossed over in body a few times, but I had never stayed long. some of my jaunts had been to chase down wayward spirits. Id always jumped in, done my duty, and jumped out.With such beauty, it seemed incredulous the residents here would want to keep sneaking over to my world. Birds sang a farewell to the setting sun. The landscapes we passed were gorgeous and exquisitely colored, like a real-life doubting Thomas Kinkade painting. It almost looked unreal, like Technicolor gone crazy.There was also magic here. backbreaking magic. It permeated the air, every blossom, every blade of grass. It set my hairs on end. I didnt like magi c, not this kind, not the magic that filled living things. That was a gentry thing. Humans had no magic within them. We took it from the world with tools and ch accouterments it was not congenital with us. Feeling it so heavy in the air unnerved me, almost making it hard for me to breathe.Suddenly we crossed an invisible line, and cold wind blasted against my skin. Snow lay in drifts along the side of the road which stayed miraculously uncovered and icicles hung daintily on the trees like Christmas ornaments.What the hell happened? I exclaimed.The Willow Land, said Finn. Its winter right now. Here, I mean.I glanced behind us. A chilly, white landscape stretched back as far as the eye could see, no cherry trees in mickle. I wrapped my arms around my body.Do we have to go this way? Its freezing.You are the only who is cold, mistress, noted Volusian.Yeah, said Wil brightly. I cant feel anything. How cool is that? I bet those boots of yours wont protect you from hypothermia.I rolle d my eye. Stupid spirits. All of them. Alive or otherwise.How much farther through here?Longer if we keep standing around, said Volusian.Sighing, I trudged along, pulling my coat tighter. I wore my usual one, the olive-green moleskin that went to my knees. I had put it on mainly to cover the arsenal underneath, and it had seemed too warm back in Tucson. Now it felt ridiculously thin. Teeth chattering, I followed the spirits, focusing mainly on putting one foot in front of the other.In only a short while, we crossed other unseen boundary, and thick humidity slammed down on me, much like my sauna. Heat boiled around us, and this time I took off my jacket. In the fading light, deep green leaves rustled together, and cicadas sang in the trees. The flowers here were different than the delicate ones in the Rowan Land. These had richer, deeper colors, and their perfume was cloying. The minions informed me wed crossed into the Alder Land. I cheered up, happy to find it wasnt winter here an d that we were so near our goal.Until we crossed back into the pink-treed valleys of the Rowan Land.Whats this? Are we going in circles?No, mistress, said Nandi. This is the way to King Aesons.But we just came out of the Alder Land. We need to turn around.Not unless you want to take days to get there. Your friends body wouldnt survive that long. Volusian prone his head toward Wils ethereal form.That doesnt make any sense.The Otherworld doesnt lie like yours, explained Finn. Its hard to notcrank if you havent been here a lot. Its more diaphanous when physical. The land folds in on itself, and sometimes what seems longer is shorter. And whats shorter is longer. Weve got to cut back through here to get to Aesons. Weird, but there you have it.It sounds like a wormhole, I muttered as I walked again.Worms do not travel this way, said Nandi.I tried explaining what a wormhole was, how some physicists theorized space could thud and fold, making it possible to travel through those folds an d end up on the other side more quickly. As soon as I reached the word physicist, I gave up, realizing I fought a losing battle.We soon crossed into the oak tree Land, a breathtaking landscape of fiery orange trees and scattered leaves, intensify by the burning orange sunset. Here, it apparently was autumn. I swore I could tactual sensation wood smoke and cider on the wind. Something else also caught my attention.Hey I halt and stared off into the trees. I had just seen a sleek orange form dart by, its white-tipped tail flaring behind it. It was that fox again. I verbalise it was.What fox? asked Finn. I dont see anything.Neither did I, added Wil.My mistress has gone mad at last, Nandi said on a sigh.Long before this, muttered Volusian.There was a fox watching me back in my worldand now I just saw other one.The Otherworld has animals just like yours does, said Finn. Its probably coincidence.But what if its not?Well, it could be a spirit fox. Was it really big? Sometimes theyre Volusian cried a warning just before the horses came crashing through the trees. I had my gun and athame out in a flash, firing without misgiving at the first assailant I saw. There were twelve of them, men and women, some armored and some not. Their clothing looked like something you might get if the cast from Lord of the Rings went to a rave. All of them rode horses. Charmingly archaic.The man I shot screamed. Steel bullets and gentry flesh dont mix so well. Unfortunately, he had shifted position at the last minute, so I only took him in the arm. In my periphery, I saw Volusian flare with blue light I hoped he was fighting on my side. One of the riders bore down on me with a copper sword alight with magic. My iron athame caught it, and we stood locked there for a moment. Iron, the emblem of technology, fought back against the metal it had supplanted, but in the end his magic was stronger. There was simply more of it, and the wielder had more brute force.He pushed me backward, and I stumbled into someone one of my minions must have unseated. In one fluid motion, I regained my balance and slashed at the man with my athame. line of credit gleamed through his shirt, and then I clocked him in the head. He staggered, and then another hit took him down.Another rider came at me. I fired, and she jerked backward as the bullet hit her in the chest. Underneath her shirt, I saw welt armor and wondered how much that would have softened the blow. I took aim at another rider, and then a sharp feminine voice called out to me.Stop, human. Unless you want your friend to die.Glancing over, I saw a tall woman with long black hair worn in two braids. She inclined her head toward a young man whose arm extended graciously outward. Above the palm of that hand, Wils spirit floated. A golden, viscous glow cased him, giving him the appearance of an insect stuck in amber. I had no steer what kind of magic it was, but I knew he was trapped. And at risk. beatified it. This was exac tly the reason I hadnt wanted him along. He had indeed succeeded in getting two of us killed.I glanced around. Seven of the riders were injured, unconscious, or perchance dead. Not bad for the four of us, I thought, as I assessed our betting odds of taking out the last five. My gun was still trained on my target.The woman gave me a thin smile as though yarn my mind. You could kill him, but your friend would be dead before your succeeding(a) eye blink. As would you.Whats it matter? Youll just kill us both anyway. At least this way Ill take company to the next world.A new voice spoke No ones sending you to the next world. Not yet anyway.One of the unhorsed riders clambered to his feet. Presumably one of my spirits had fought him, because I didnt make out him. Yetsomething about him struck me as vaguely familiar. White-blond hair hung to his shoulders, and ice blue eyes studied me carefully.He approached slowly, a sly smile spreading over his face the closer he got. I didnt know w ho he was and wondered what tactical advantage Id gain or lose by turning the gun on him instead. Was he the bigger threat? When he was only a couple feet away, his face lit up, and he baffled himself to great, booming laughs.I dont believe this. I dont believe this The mouse has walked right up to the cat. Unbelievable.The black-haired woman fixed him with an irritated glare. What are you continue on about now, Rurik?He could barely contain himself. Do you know who this is? This is the Dark Swan herself. Eugenie Markham, right at our doorstep. I flinched at the use of my given name, though I knew it shouldnt surprise me anymore. By the gods, I never expected this. I fought her only a week ago, and now here she comes, offering herself to me.If you consider me shoving my gun down your throat offering, then yeah, I suppose I am. I eyed him curiously, and then I knew. It was you. Youre the ice elemental from the hotel.He sketched me a bow. And now Ill finish what I started. Happily, even. The sight of your naked body has haunted my dreams for many a night.Yeah? The only thing I mean about you is how easy it was to kick your ass.Rurik grinned. Youll remember a lot more before Im done. Behind him, a few of the other men regarded me with renewed interest. I felt myself go rigid, in spite of my bold words.The black-haired woman eyed Rurik distastefully. If you think Ill let you give in to yourperversions here, youre wrong. Youre as bad as them.Stop being so prim, Shaya. You know who she is.It doesnt matter. You can have her later if the king says so, but youre not doing anything while were on patrol. My patrol.I didnt quite take that as female solidarity, but it was better than nothing. Id come expecting a grisly death, not a gentry gang bang. Wil might be a lost cause, but if I fired on one of the guys, my minions could probably do grave damage to the others. I tensed, ready to fire.Stop, Volusian suddenly said, moving forward. Dont touch her.We dont take order s from you, replied Shaya.Volusian was unfazed. No, but you do take orders from your king, and my mistress has business with him.I saw the men freeze. So did I. Business with their king? Ah, right. We were in the Oak Land where Dorian ruled, the king Volusian had originally wanted me to see. Suddenly I wondered if this malarkey way wed taken had been a ploy of his to get us to Dorian after all. If so, I wondered if hed imagined capture as part of the plan.Shaya regarded me coolly. King Dorian has no business with her.A few of the men looked like they doubted this, and I jumped on it, as well as what Volusian had said about Dorian earlier.Are you so sure? I smiled, portraying the same complacent confidence I used with the minions, even as my heart pounded in my chest. Too many eyes on me. It was like public speaking. Ive come a long way to talk to him. How do you think hell fight if he finds out youve killed me before Ive delivered my message?Tell me your message, she said impatie ntly.I talk only to him. Alone. I dont really think hed like you getting the gossip before he did. Or not getting it at all if you kill me.We wont kill you, said Rurik cheerfully. We have plenty of other things we can do. Youll still get to the kingeventually.Volusian fixed his red eyes on Rurik. And how do you think Dorian will feel when he learns youve been at her before him? The kings tastes are quiteparticular.In another situation, I would have decked Volusian. Whose side was he on anyway? Stupid question, I realized a moment later. He was on his own side. As always.The gentry all appeared put out. They looked like they really wanted to kill someone. The woman verified as much.Theyve killed our people. We cannot let that go unpunished.One of the other female riders strode forward. No, actually. Everyones still alive. Some just barelybut if we can get a healer out here fast enough, theyll live.All alive? So much for Team Eugenie. Id known gentry were stronger in their own world, but thisIt didnt bode well for our gallant attack on Aeson and his people. Next time Id aim for the face. I doubted theyd come back from that.Lets kill the weak human anyway, suggested one of the others, just for fun. We can still bring her to the king.The kings going to offer me hospitality, I informed them, still talking out of my ass, for my whole group. Hell be pissed if you kill one of them. Itll make him look bad.I was lying, and Shaya looked like she knew it. You seem very sure of yourself, Odile, but Im less convinced.The other woman crossed her arms. We have to get a healer. We need to go back for help now.Shaya thought about this and then gave a sharp nod. She delegated people to stay with the wounded and others to escort my party back. in advance she did, she ordered me disarmed. Rurik made a great show of this, touching me a lot more than was really necessary as he took away the athames handle first, of course and wand. When he wrapped his fingers around the butt of t he gun, a look of shock crossed his face and he recoiled.Damn it he swore, cradling his hand. ItsI dont know what it is. But it doesnt feelright.I smiled sweetly. Thank God for polymers. Almost as effective as iron.The commanding womans eyes flashed. Someone take it from her.No one moved.All right, then, one of you spirits. You take it.My minions didnt move.They dont take orders from you, I said, parodying her earlier words.They do from you. Order one of them to do it now, or I will have the life squeezed out of your friend, regardless of King Dorians anger.I studied her, trying to decide if she bluffed. Wil suddenly made a piteous sound as the golden aura around him tightened. God, I hoped Volusian was right about this Dorian ridiculousness.Nandi, I said simply.She strode forward and removed the gun from me. One of the riders offered up a cape so she could mail boat it up. When it looked like a smothered baby, he reluctantly took it.As for me, I was hoisted onto Ruriks horse for the trip back to Dorians. The spirits needed no such transportation.He wrapped his arms around me, ostensibly to reach the reins, but I was pretty sure he didnt need to touch my breasts to do it. His hold tightened.I wouldnt want you to fall off, he explained.Im going to cut your balls off the first chance I get, I informed him.Ah, he laughed, urging the horse into motion. I cant wait for you to meet the king. Hes going to jazz you.