Its the 4th Quarter on Your New Years Resolutions †Will You Win Your Game

Its the 4th Quarter on Your New Years Resolutions – Will You Win Your Game We’re coming into the 4th Quarter of 2016, and we all know games CAN be won in the 4th quarter! I’m reviewing  the goals I set up to reach in January- my New Year’s â€Å"Ressaylutions†- and assessing  how I can win my game! Here are my promises from January and how I’m measuring up: 1. Infuse my WHY statement throughout The Essay Expert’s website. I’m thinking of this as my team huddle. The statement that motivates me, my writing team, and our clients. I’ve put my WHY statement on my new homepage, www.theessayexpert.com, on our new Why The Essay Expert page, and on my company Facebook page.  It reads: At The Essay Expert, we don’t go to bed until we know we’ve captured your essence on paper. That’s what gets each one of us up in the morning, because that’s what will excite the right company or school about you. Not the person next to you. Not a list of bullet points. You. I added more â€Å"why† focused descriptions to my Executive Resume LinkedIn Success Package, Mid-Level Resume LinkedIn Success Package, and Entry-Level Resume LinkedIn Success Package pages too. Here’s an example: Our professional resume and LinkedIn profile writers will make sure you stand out from the competition, highlighting your strengths and accomplishments so you don’t sound like everyone else. I’ll continue to look for ways to infuse every communication with my WHY. Go team! 2. Provide better information on services on my site.†¨ I’ve made a lot of progress here and took the opportunity of a new website to put better descriptions of my services on the pages. I just added this information to my new â€Å"a la carte† pages. I’d say I got my first down on this one! 3. Serve 250 clients. Alternate play! The Essay Expert has been catering to more of an executive audience, including those seeking Board positions. To serve this market, we’ve on-boarded a few amazing new writers with great talent in executive resume writing. We’ve refocused instead of expanded. 4. Publish 2 new editions of How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile.†¨ Touchdown! I released the 13th edition and am almost ready with the 14th. Right on schedule. 5. Get How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile in front of colleges and universities. This one might be in the realm of managing the hot dog vendors ;-). To increase book distribution, I made a lot of cold calls to college bookstores, many of whom agreed to carry my book. I also submitted How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile for consideration by Barnes Noble. And I received an inquiry from Skyhorse Publishing, who may be interested in publishing a trade version of my book if it’s not accepted by Barnes Noble. So I’ve made a bit of progress! Is there a library, college bookstore, or career center in your area that you would like to carry my book? Please go into your local establishment and request the book if you want it! 6. Increase college essay / personal statement portion of my business to 25% of business.†¨ Time out. Instead of focusing here, I’ve put efforts into building my executive resume writing business. For now this one is on hold. 7. Find an editor to do some of the editing of resumes and LinkedIn profiles that I’m currently doing. Seeking an assistant coach! I interviewed some potential editors and so far haven’t found the right match. I am also seeking someone to help with sales calls and client inquiries. If you know someone you think would be a great resume editor or sales person, please send them my way! EXTRA POINTS: One big project I undertook was redesigning my website – again. This was not on my list, but it was a huge accomplishment which is still underway. The site was launched and we’re working out the kinks. I’m calling this my â€Å"extra points† – although it has come with some unexpected new challenges and items which will likely show up on my goals for next year. It looks like I have my work cut out for me for the fall in order to win in this 4th quarter. How about you? I encourage you to look at your 2016 resolutions to see where you might want to recommit. Please share – putting your promise and progress out to someone else creates accountability and makes it more likely that you will win your game!

Residential Real estate property Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Residential Real estate property - Essay Example In the first quarter of 2013, the appreciation of the property was 7% in Jakarta, which the author believes that it will stay the same until the next four years. The property growth of Jakarta is in the bubble right now. He states, â€Å"My financial analysis that is based on discounted cash flow and direct capitalization, I forecast that in the next 4 years the appreciation will stay the same and in the third year, the property value of one condominium will be around $ 482,765 USD - $ 495,363.† If the condominiums investors decide to sell property, they will gain $ 577580.81 USD net sale price. Thus, investors need to sell their condominiums at maximum in the next 3 years.According to the above financial analysis, it is reasonable to take 7% appreciation for the next four years because from a rational perspective, more lower class people will upgrade to middle class. When they receive their pay role for the first time they receive their money, these group of people would want to purchase a place to live, and they would not think for the property value and others’ perspectives on behalf of the property value. Even though the price is going up, the GDP will support it. Thus, from the author’s perspectives, the demand is still high until the third year. However, after the above analysis, the author believes that Jakarta residential real estate price could go down when people start to realize that the price is not worth the property value. There is a high possibility that more people will start to think to live outside Jakarta.

Emulsion Technology Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Emulsion Technology - Lab Report Example   An emulsion is a setup of two immiscible liquid phases with one of them dispersed throughout the other in form of tiny and fine droplets. The phase consisting of tiny droplets is defined as the internal or dispersed phase whereas the suspension phase is classified as the external or continuous phase. Water and oil are the two major constituents of pharmaceutical emulsions. An aqueous continuous phase will render the emulsion as oil-in-water (o/w) whereas an oily continuous phase will make a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion. The stability of an emulsion is dependent on the characteristics of the interfacial film. Addition of an emulsifying agent lowers the interfacial tension and increases the stability of the emulsion. A wide variety of these substances are available: e.g. egg yolk, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, 20 etc. In the past emulsions have been used to impart paraffin oil and other oily substances in a more palatable form (Aulton 1988, p. 93). Nowadays emulsions are very co mmon in foods, cosmetics, personal hygiene and especially pharmaceuticals. Creams, ointments, liniments, pastes, and films are some examples of pharmaceutical emulsions. They are classified according to the oil and water content in each of the preparation and also on their routes of administration (Troy, Remington & Beringer 2006, p. 886-887). To achieve the production of a stabilized emulsion this experimented was conducted in order to formulate a scientific method of emulsion design. MATERIALS & METHOD A condensed film consisting of an oil-soluble component (OSC) and a water-soluble component (WSC) in a ratio of 9:1 for the required o/w emulsion is needed at the interface between oil and water in order to achieve the best result. MATERIALS Liquid Paraffin, Tween 80 (polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan mono-oleate, Span 80 (sorbitan mono-oleate) Span 80 is selected as the OSC while Tween 80 is selected as the WSC at total blend concentration of 2% w/v. Both compartments are then administer ed into screw via a burette and then labeled. The vials are agitated by inversion and then emulsified by drawing into and expelling from a syringe three times. Six different formulations were prepared with varying ratios of Span 80 and Tween 80. The HLB of each formulation was calculated from the equation given below, so as to determine the required HLB of the oil. HLB [formula] = f [OSC] . HLB [OSC] + (1-f) [WSC] .  

The acquisition of knowledge is often a painful experience and through Essay

The acquisition of knowledge is often a painful experience and through suffering, one can achieve various degrees of wisdom. In - Essay Example † (1.1.51) instead of saying, â€Å"Which of you shall doth loves us most?† shows his first act of foolishness, giving more importance to showing off and displaying yourself in public rather than real love. On the other hand, Morrie Schwartz in Tuesdays with Morrie believes otherwise, saying, in page 127, â€Å"If you're trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down on you anyhow. And if you're trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone." With this, it already clearly shows the opposing values and beliefs of the two main characters. While the two daughters cleverly flatter their father to acquire more land in King Lear, Cordelia, in contrast remains honest and refuses to participate in the test of public display of love. Out of rage, Lear disowns Cordelia, saying, â€Å"Here I disclaim all my paternal care/Pro pinquity and property of blood,/And as a stranger to my heart and me/Hold thee, from this, forever.† (1.1.113-116) On the contrary, in Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie, who is a retired professor dying from Lou Gehrig’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), does not get carried away with his emotions and feelings. Even when he is in great pain, knowing he has a few more months to live, does not give in to the rage and great pain that he must be feeling, but instead, makes the best out of what he has left. In the 10th page of the book, he says, â€Å"Do I wither up and disappear, or do I make the best of my time left?† In King Lear, after the king’s sudden decisions about the division of the land and the banishment of Cordelia, Kent pleads with the king, telling him that he has gone mad in impulsively making those verdicts. Lear remains stubborn, and becomes angry again, saying, â€Å"Come not between the dragon and his wrath.† (1.1.128) and in line 166 shouts, â€Å"Out of my sight!†, banishing Kent. In Tuesdays with Morrie, however, Morrie, handles his emotions differently. On page 21, he explains, â€Å"There are some mornings when I cry and cry and mourn for myself. Some mornings, I’m so angry and bitter. But it doesn’t last too long. Then I get up and say, ‘I want to live . . .’† Later on, in King Lear, after the king banishes Cordelia and Kent, he, once again, becomes angry and through his impetuous anger, curses Goneril, the first daughter. Appealing to Regan, the second daughter, he is rejected by her. Through troubles and rejection made by his early hasty decisions, he finally gains wisdom and realizes the real characters of Goneril and Regan, and in vain, curses and cries out in grief, â€Å"I have full cause of weeping; but this heart/Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws,/Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!† (2.4.311-313) However, in Tuesdays with Morri e, although Morrie also gains more wisdom and understanding about life when he experienced pain and unhappiness in his past, this was not caused by his thoughtless decisions and giving into his emotions. When he learned about his fatal sickness, instead of screaming and crying out loud, instead on page 10, Albom writes, â€Å"Instead, he would make death his final project, the center point of

French Essays Abortion Laws in France

French Essays Abortion Laws in France Abortion laws in France does the system support a pro-choice or pro-life ideology? The way in which abortion has been viewed culturally has changed dramatically over time. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, attitude change began to liberalise alongside the social and cultural changes spreading through Western Europe.   A number of factors have been presented in the literature as contributing to the ‘wave of change’ evident in contemporary feelings towards abortion. Approximately 50 million abortions are currently carried out worldwide regardless of the differences in laws between countries. More than one-third of these procedures are performed illegally (mainly in the developing world) with nearly one-half taking place outside the health care systems. Once deemed a sin punishable by death, with more relaxed and liberal attitudes towards sexuality and reproduction, the act of aborting a foetus is now seen by many as a woman’s right. Often classified under the title of a ‘pro-choice’ standpoint, the decision of whether to continue with a pregnancy is seen to rest with the individual, and Governments following this perspective should thus offer the procedure in a safe and supportive environment demonstrating their recognition that a woman should have the right of control over their own fertility. Around two-thirds of the world’s women live in such countries, where abortion can be carried out on request, or for a range of reasons. Such laws have led to the development and rise of safe and legal abortions, leading to the rates of pregnancy-related complications such as death for mother or infant, to decrease. The pace of such liberalisation is however not constant across continents and countries, and laws differ in whether reasons need to be given in regards to the request of the abortion, conditions involved in obtaining treatment, and lastly whether consent of some form, other than that of the female is required. Different levels of explanation required before the abortion is provided can vary from physical and mental health risks to the mother and foetus, to socio-medical or socio-economic reasons, to abortion upon request (predominantly within first trimester). Also, consent in some countries is required for minors (under 16 years, UK) or in more restrictive nations from the spouse of married women (Japan, Turkey). Countries that have more stringent and restrictive conditions have contributed to the slowing in abortion law reform, with restrictions actually increasing within the legal systems of some places. Often classified as a ‘pro-life’ perspective, such countries vie w the right of the foetus to life from conception, irrespective of the wishes of the mother. Countries that clearly fall into this category include the United States, where further liberalisation of abortion through changes to the law, have been blocked. Abortion laws in France currently allow women to have an abortion up to 12 weeks into pregnancy; however there are a number of processes that women must comply with in order to get the procedure authorised. Not only do French women wishing to get an abortion have to attend mandatory ‘pre-abortion counselling’ but they also need to adhere to a seven day cooling-off period after the counselling before the abortion can take place. France had in earlier time been especially restrictive in its allowance of abortion; during Nazi occupation in 1940-1941 abortion was a criminal offence, and those practicing in providing abortions could be punished by death if convicted – a lady who had performed a number of illegal abortions around this time was executed in 1942. Although the death penalty was dropped in 1944, abortions were still performed in secret up until the 1970’s when French law was relaxed in order to allow women to have an abortion up to tenth week of preg nancy (Law No. 79-1204 of 31 December 1979) and this was then increased in 2001 to be available up to week 12. After this time the agreement of two physicians stating the health of the woman is endangered is required in order to allow an abortion to be performed. The implications of these requirements can mean a number of things for women. The time limit within French laws often mean that French women wanting to terminate their pregnancy after the twelfth week are required to travel elsewhere (such as the UK) in order to get the treatment. This itself can incur financial consequences through cost of travel and possibly prolonged time off work, but also psychologically as their support systems may not be accessible when abroad, and the stress of travelling to a foreign land with a different language may also add considerably to an already distressing situation. In cases where a woman is within the timeframe to get the abortion in France, so-called counselling sessions are often biased towards getting the female to keep the baby and can thus prove emotionally and psychologically challenging and upsetting, whilst the waiting period can prolong stress and distress levels with having to wait for the procedure to take place. Such actions can theref ore severely interfere with the woman’s decision making process, which ultimately has the potential to lead to a decision being made that will later be regretted. The time limit of twelve weeks thus limits women’s choice to have an abortion, and when the limit is missed can either lead to an unwanted child or the instigation of an illegal abortion that is likely to be under less safe, with greater health risks than regulated abortions, or where the woman is required to travel outside the country with the associated stressors of doing so, to have the procedure completed. As to whether French laws are thus consistent with a pro-choice or pro-life approach, the distinction in this country is not clear cut. The fact that women (over 16) may opt for an abortion on request without specific reasoning given, without consent from another required, appears to be consistent with the liberal pro-choice perspective. However the relatively strict time limit imposed, coupled with the enforced and often biased ‘counselling’ and set waiting period before the procedure can be performed does appear to attempt to make it as difficult as possible within the framework of French law, for the woman to terminate her unwanted pregnancy. French law can therefore be seen to be more pro-life than other similar western European countries such as the UK where counselling is not mandatory, and abortion can be performed up to 24 weeks into pregnancy. French law may in light of the points discussed, be seen to fall within some median point on the continuum between pro-life and pro-choice ideology, which may seen to benefit from giving the unborn foetus a degree of right to life, and yet also be seen to be restricting women in respect to their own reproduction capacity, in comparison to similar European countries, which may anger many in our culturally liberal modern day society. ESSAY PLAN: ABORTION LAWS IN FRANCE: DOES THE SYSTEM SUPPORT A PRO-CHOICE OR PRO-LIFE IDEOLOGY? INTRODUCTIONWhat has the background to abortion laws been, and how has mood and societal reflection on the topic changed over time†¦ PRO-CHOICE PROLIFE EXPLANATIONWhat are the pro-life and pro-choice movements, and what does each of these perspectives involve†¦. THE LAWS IN FRANCE Current laws and requirements for abortion to be granted IS FRANCE PRO-LIFE OR PRO-CHOICE?Are French laws consistent with a pro-life or pro-choice ideology? CONCLUSION OF THE POINTS REFERENCES Abortion in Law, History and Religion (1995) Childbirth by choice Trust ‘Abortion Policy: France’ The Population Policy Data Bank: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat Gearty, C (2004) ‘The politics of abortion’ The Tablet Latham, C ‘Policy networks and reproductive rights in France and Britain’ BRIEFING PAPERS ‘Crafting an abortion law that respects women’s rights: Issues to consider’ (2004) Center for Reproductive Rights ‘Safe and legal abortion is a woman’s human right’ (2004) Center for Reproductive Rights INTERNET RESOURCES http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/population/abortion/France.abo.htmhttp://www.protectchoice.org/http://www.abortionfacts.com/http://www.prochoiceforum.org.uk/al11.asp

American Pie :: Film Movies

American Pie The movie American Pie is about four high schoolers, close to graduating, determined not to carry their virginity's with them to college and so they make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. The movie is directed by Paul Weitz and stars Jason Biggs, Chris Klein and Tara Reids and takes place around Michigan's East Great Falls High. The movie opens with student Jim (Jason Biggs) being caught by his parents pleasuring himself in a tube sock while trying to watch a scrambled broadcast on an adult channel. By the end of this movie, all four seniors would have lost their virginity somehow or the other, and as a result with it learning more about themselves, their friendships, love, romance and the opposite sex. The movie showed a lot of different aspects of high school life and for the most part, some of the characters in it could remind the audience of some high school buddies. It had everything from diarrhea, vomiting, voyeurism, premature ejaculation, the drinking of beer with a sperm chaser and even a scene about masturbation with an apple pie. As controversial as those seem it didn't stop teenagers from flocking to the theaters to go see it. Summarizing the reviews of three critics will show that each critic had a lot of the same positive and the few negative views, but they all enjoyed it and the message it sent out to the audience. Movie critic Catherine Ranfold said "Finally, a really good teen flick!" She mentioned about all the gross gags used in the movie and still had some more praising to do. The critic noted how the film was "vulgar, raunchy, innocent, rude, funny and incredibly sweet- much like high school" (Ranfold). It reminded viewers of their high school days with the party goers and the so called nerds. She also found the portrayal of girls in the movie refreshing, because they were "more than objects of desire." She described her memories on the sexual dominance of females over the males because it was the females who choose who they would lose their virginity too and "That's something that's bang in the film." Comparing the movie American Pie to others in the past such as "Animal house" and last year's hit "Something about Mary" is something critic Todd McCarthy mostly talked about. As McCarthy put it " Last year's semen in the hair [ Something about Mary] has been replaced by semen in someone's beer.

Night World : Black Dawn Chapter 13

I think,† Jeanne said, â€Å"that he's here to get Delosto close the Dark Kingdom out Shut up the castleand come join him Outside. And, incidentally, ofcourse, kill all the slaves.† Maggie stared. ‘Kill them all?' â€Å"Well, it makes sense. Nobody would needthem anymore.† â€Å"And that's why you were escaping now,† Maggiesaid slowly. Jeanne gave her a quick, startled glance. â€Å"You'rereally not as stupid as you seem at first sight, you know?† â€Å"Gee, thanks.† Maggie shifted on her branch. Aminute ago she'd been thinking how good it would feel to get away from the twigs poking her. Now she suddenly wanted to stay here forever, hiding.She had a very bad feeling. â€Å"So why,† she said, forming her thoughtsslowly,†doesHunter Redfern want to do thisright now?† â€Å"What do youthink? Really, Maggie, what do you know about all this?† Four Wild Powers,Maggie thought, hearing Delos's old teacher's voice in her mind. Who willbeneeded at the millennium, to save the world-or todestroy it. â€Å"I know that something's happening at the millennium, and that Delos is a Wild Power, and thatthe Wild Powers are supposed to do something-â€Å" â€Å"Save the world,† Jeanne said in a clipped voice.†Except that that's not what the Night People want.They figure there's going to be some huge catastrophe that'll wipe out most of the humansand then they can take over. And that's why Hunter Redfern'shere. He wants the Wild Powers on his side insteadof on the humans'. He wants them to help destroythe human world instead of saving it. And it lookslike he's just about convinced Delos.† Maggie let out a shaky breath and leaned herhead against a branch. It was just like what Deloshad told her-except that Jeanne was an uninterested party. She still wanted not to believe it, but she had a terrible sinking feeling. In fact, she had a strange feeling of weight,as if something awfulwas trying to settle on her shoulders. â€Å"The millennium really means the end of theworld,† she said. â€Å"Yeah. Our world, anyway.† Maggie glanced atP.J., who was swinging her thin legs over the edge of a branch. â€Å"You stillokay?† P.J. nodded. She looked frightened, but not unbearably so. She kept her eyes on Maggie's face trustingly. â€Å"And do youstill want to go to the castle?†Jeanne said, watching Maggie just as closely.†Hunter Redfern is a very bad guy to mess with.And I hate to tell you, but your friend Prince Delosis out for our blood just like the rest of them.† â€Å"No, I don't still wantto go,† Maggie said briefly. Her head went down and she gave Jeanne a brooding look under her eyelashes. `But I have to, anyway. I've got even more reasons now.† â€Å"Such as?† Maggie held up a finger. â€Å"One, I've got to. gethelp for Cady.† She glanced at the motionless figure clinging trancelike to the fir's trunk, then held upanother finger. â€Å"Two, I have to find out what happened to my brother.† Another finger. â€Å"And, three,I have to get those slaves free before Hunter Redfern has them all killed.† â€Å"You have to what?†Jeanne said in a muffled shriek. She almost fell out of the tree. â€Å"I kind of thought you'd react that way. Don'tworry about it. You don't have to get involved.† â€Å"I was wrong before. You areas dumbasyoulook. And you are totally freaking crazy.† Yeah, I know, Maggie thought grimly. It's probably justas well I didn't mention the fourth reason. Which was that she had to keep Delos from aiding and abetting the end of the world. That wasthe responsibility that had settled on her, and she had no idea why it was hers except that she'd been inside his mind. She knew him. She couldn't justwalk away. If anybody could talk to him about it and convince him not to do it, she could. She had absolutely no doubt about that. So it was her job to try. And if he was really as evil as Jeanne seemed tothink-if it was true that he'd killed Miles†¦ well, then she had a different job. She had to do whatever was necessary to stophim. Distant and impossible as it seemed, shewould have to kill him if that was what it took. â€Å"Come on,† she said to the other girls. â€Å"Cady, do you think you can climb down now? And, Jeanne,do you know a way into the castle?† The moat stank. Maggie had been glad to find Jeanne knew a wayinto the castle. That was before she discovered that it involved swimming through stagnant water and climbing up what Jeanne called a garderobe butwhat was all too obviously the shaft of an oldlatrine. â€Å"Just kill me, somebody,† Maggie whispered halfway up. She was soaking wet and daubed with un thinkable slime. She couldn't remember ever beingquite this dirty. The next moment she forgot about it in her worryabout Cady. Cady had managed the swim, still doing everything she was told asif she werein a trance. But now she was getting shaky. Maggiewondered seriously whether this sort of activity was helpful to somebody who'd been poisoned. When they werefinally at the top of the shaft,Maggie looked around and saw a small room thatseemed to be built directly into the castle wall. Everything was made of dark stone, with a cold and echoing feel to it. â€Å"Don't make any noise,† Jeanne whispered. Shebent close to Maggie, who was helping support Cady. â€Å"We need to go down a passage and throughthe kitchen, okay? It's all right if slaves see us, butwe have to watch out for them.† â€Å"We've got to get Cady to a healing woman-â€Å" â€Å"I know! That's where I'm trying to take you.†Jeanne clamped a hand on P.J.'s shoulder and steered her into a corridor. More stone. More echoes. Maggie tried to walkwithout her shoes squishing or smacking. She wasdimly impressed with the castle itself-it was grandand cold and so huge that she felt like an insect making her way through the passage. After what seemed like an endless walk, theyemerged in a small entryway partitioned off bywooden screens. Maggie could hear activity behind the screens andas Jeanne led them stealthily forward, she caught a glimpse of people moving onthe other side. They were spreading white tablecloths over long wooden tables in a room thatseemed bigger than Maggie's entire house. Another doorway. Another passage. And finallythe kitchen, which was full of bustling people. Theywere stirring huge iron cauldrons and turning meaton spits. The smell of a dozen different kinds offood hit Maggie and made her feel faint. She was so hungry that her knees wobbled and she had to swallow hard. But even more than hungry, she was scared. They were in plain sight of dozens of people. â€Å"Slaves,† Jeanne said shortly. â€Å"They won't tell onus. Grab a sack to wrap around you and come on.And, P.J.,take off that ridiculous hat.† Slaves, Maggie thought, staring. They were alldressed identically, in loose-fitting pants and topsthat were like short tunics. Jeanne was wearing thesame thing-it had looked enough like clothes from Outside that Maggie hadn't really focused on it before. What struck her now was that everybodylooked so†¦ un-ironed. There were no sharp creases. And no real color. All the clothes were an indeterminate shade of beige-brown, and all thefaces seemed just as dull and faded They were like drones. What would it be like to live that way? she wondered as she threw a rough sack around her shoulders to hide the dark blue of her jacket. Without any choice in what you do, and any hope for thefuture? It would be terrible, she decided. And it mightjust drive you crazy. I wonder if any of them ever †¦snap? But she couldn't look around anymore. Jeanne was hustling through a doorway into the open air.There was a kind of garden here just outside the kitchen, with scraggly fnut trees and what lookedlike herbs. Then there was a courtyard andfinallya row of huts nestled against the high black wall that surrounded the castle. â€Å"This is the really dangerous part,† Jeanne whispered harshly. â€Å"It's the back, but if one of them looks out and sees us, we're in trouble. Keep yourhead down-and walk like this. Like a slave.† Sheled them at a shufflingrun toward a hut. This place is like a city, Maggie thought. A cityinside a wall, with the castle in the middle. They reached the shack. Jeanne pulled the door open and bustled them inside. Then she shut the door again and sagged. â€Å"I think we actually made it.† She sounded surprised. Maggie was looking around. The tiny room was dim, but she could see crude furniture and piles ofwhat looked like laundry. â€Å"This is it? We're safe?† â€Å"Nowhere is safe,† Jeanne said sharply. â€Å"But wecan get some slave clothes for you here, and we can rest. And I'll go get the healing woman,† sheaddedas Maggie opened her mouth. While she was gone, Maggie turned to Cady andP.J. They were both shivering. She made Cady lie down and had P.J. help her go through one of the piles of laundry. â€Å"Get your wet things off,† Maggie said. Shepulled off her own hightops and shrugged out ofher sodden jacket. Then she knelt to get Cady'sshoes off. The blind girl was lying motionless on athin pallet, and didn't respond to Maggie's touch.Maggie was worried about her. Behind her, the door opened and Jeanne camein with two people. One was a gaunt and handsome woman, with dark hair pulled untidily back and anapron over her tunic and pants. The other was ayoung girl who looked frightened. â€Å"This is Laundress.† The way Jeanne said it, itwas clearly a proper name. â€Å"She's a healer, and the girl's her helper.† Relief washed through Maggie. â€Å"This is Cady,†she said. And then, since nobody moved and Cady couldn't speak for herself, she went on, â€Å"She's fromOutside, and she was poisoned by the slave traders. I'm not sure how long ago that was-at least a couple of days. She's been running a high fever andmost of the time she's just sort of sleepwalking-â€Å" â€Å"What is this?† The gaunt woman took a step toward Cady, but her expression was anything but welcoming. Then she turned on Jeanne angrily.†How could you bring this-thing-in here?† Maggie froze where she was by Cady's feet.†What are you talkingabout? She's sick-â€Å" â€Å"She's one of them!† The woman's eyes wereburning darkly at Jeanne. â€Å"And don't tell me you didn't notice. It's perfectly plain!† â€Å"What'sperfectly plain?† Maggie's fists were clenched. â€Å"Jeanne, what's she talking about?† The woman's burning eyes turned on her. â€Å"Msgirl is a witch.† Maggie went still. Part of her was amazed and disbelieving. Awitch? Like Sylvia? A Night Person? Cady wasn't at all like that. She wasn't evil. Shewas normal,a nice, ordinary, gentle girl. She couldn'tbe anything supernatural†¦. But another part of Maggie wasn't even startled.It was saying that at some deep level she had known all along. Her mind was bringing up pictures. Cady in thehollow tree, when she and Maggie were hidingfrom Bern and Gavin. Cady's lips moving and Gavin saying I can't feelthem at all. The hound today had said the same thing. I can't follow theirlifeforce anymore. She was blocking them from sensing us, Maggiethought. And she was the one who told us to climbthe tree. She's blind, but she can see things. It's true. She turned slowly to look at the girl lying onthe pallet. Cady was almost perfectly still, her breathingbarely lifting her chest. Her hair was coiled around her head like damp snakes, her face was smudgedand dirty, her lashes spiky on her cheeks. Butsomehow she hadn't lost any of her serene beauty. It remained untouched, whatever happened to herbody. I don't care, Maggie thought. She may be a witch,but she's not like Sylvia. I know she's not evil. She turned back to Laundress, and spoke carefully and deliberately. â€Å"Look, I understand that you don't like witches.But this girl has been with us for two days, and allshe's done is help us. And, I mean, look at her!†Maggie lost her reasonable tone. â€Å"They were bring ing her here as a slave! She wasn't getting any special treatment. She's not on their side!† â€Å"Too bad for her,† Laundress said. Her voice wasflat and †¦plain. The voice of a woman who saw things in black and white and didn't like arguments. And who knew how to back up her beliefs. Onebig gaunt hand, went beneath her apron, into a hid den pocket. When it came out again, it was gripping a kitchen knife. â€Å"Wait a minute,† Jeanne said. Laundress didn't look at her. â€Å"Friends of witchesare no friends of ours,† she said in her plain, heavyway. â€Å"And that includes you.† With one motion, Jeanne wheeled away from herand into a fighting stance. â€Å"You're right. I knewwhat she was. I hated her, too, at first. But it's like Maggie told you. She's not going to hurt us!† â€Å"I'm not going to miss a chance to kill one of them,† Laundress said. â€Å"And if you try to stop me, you'll be sorry.† Maggie's heart was pounding. She looked backand forth from the tall woman, who was holdingthe knife menacingly, to Jeanne, who was crouchedwith her teeth bared and her eyes narrowed. They were ready to fight. Maggie found herself in the middle of the room,in a triangle formed by Cady and Jeanne and theknife. She was too angry to be frightened. â€Å"You put that down,†she said to Laundressfiercely, forgetting that she was speaking to anadult. â€Å"You're notgoingto do anything with that. How can you even try?† Vaguely, she noticed movement behind the woman. The frightened young girl who hadn't saidanything so far was stepping forward. She was staring at Maggie, pointing at Maggie. Her eyes andmouth were wide open, but her voice was an indrawn breath. â€Å"The Deliverer!† Maggie hardly heard the gasped words. She wasrushing on. â€Å"If you people don't stick together,what kind of chance do you have? How can youever get free-â€Å" t's her!†This time the girl shrieked it, and nobody could help but hear. She clutched at Laundress's arm wildly. â€Å"You heard what she said,Laundress. She's come to free us.† â€Å"What are you talking a-?†Jeanne broke off, looking at Maggie with her eyebrows drawn together. Suddenly the eyebrows flew up and she straightened slightly from her crouch. â€Å"Hmm.† Maggie stared back. Then she followed all their eyes and looked down at herself in bewilderment. For the first time since she'd arrived in the DarkKingdom she wasn't wearing her jacket and hershoes. She was wearing exactly what she'd beenwearing when her mother's screams woke her threedays beforeher flowered pajama top, wrinkled jeans, and mismatched socks. â€Å"‘She will come clothed in flowers, shod in blueand scarlet,†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ the girl was saying. She was stillpointing at Maggie, but now it was with something like reverence. â€Å"‘And she will speak of freedom.'You heard her, Laundress! It's her. She's the one!† The knife trembled slightly. Maggie stared at thered knuckles of the hand holding it, then looked up at Laundress's face. The blotchy features were grim and skepticalbut there was an odd gleam of half-stifled hope inthe eyes. â€Å"Is she the one?† she said harshly toJeanne. â€Å"Is this idiot Soaker right? Did she say she'scome to deliver us?† Jeanne opened her mouth, then shut it again.She looked helplessly at Maggie. And, unexpectedly, P.J. spoke up. â€Å"She told usshe had to get the slaves free before Hunter Redfern had them all killed,† she said in her light,strong child's voice. She was standing straight, her slender body drawn to its fullest height. Her blondhair shone pale above her small earnest face. Her words had the unmistakable ring of truth. Something flashed in Jeanne's eyes. Her lipquirked, then she bit it. â€Å"She sure did. And I toldher she was crazy.† â€Å"And in the beginning, when Jeanne showed herwhat they do to escaped slaves here, Maggie said it had to stop.† P.J.'s voice was still clear and confident. â€Å"She said she couldn't let them do thingslike that to people.† â€Å"She said we couldn't let them do things likethat,† Jeanne corrected. â€Å"And she was crazy again.There's no way to stop them.† Laundress stared at her for a moment, then turned her burning gaze on Maggie. Her eyes wereso fierce that Maggie was afraid she was going to attack. Then, all at once, she thrust the knife backin her pocket. `Blasphemer!† she said harshly to Jeanne. â€Å"Don'ttalk about the Deliverer that way! Do you want totake away our only hope?† Jeanne raised an eyebrow. â€Å"Youwere the one about to take it away,† she pointed out. Laundress glared at her. Then she turned to Maggie and a change came over her gaunt features. Itwasn't much; they still remainedassevere and grim as ever, but there was something like a bleak smile twisting her mouth. â€Å"If you are the Deliverer,† she said, â€Å"you've gotyour work cut out for you.† â€Å"Just everybody hang on one second,† Maggiesaid. Her head was whirling. She understood whatwas going on – sort of. These people believed shewas some legendary figure come to save them. Because of a prophecy-they seemed to have a lot ofprophecies around here. But she couldn't really be their Deliverer. She knew that. She was just an ordinary girl. Andhadn't anybody else ever worn a flowered top inthis place? Well maybe not. Not a slave anyway. Maggie looked at Laundress's clothes again with new eyes.If they all wore this sort of thing, hand sewn and plain as a burlap sack, maybe a machine-made topwith bright colors and a little wilted lace would look like something from a legend. And I bet nobody wears red and blue socks, shethought and almost smiled. Especially at once. She remembered how Sylvia had looked at them. Normally she would have been terribly embarrassed by that, perfect Sylvia looking at her imperfections. But the socks had been what started heron this whole journey by convincing her that Sylviawas lying. And just now they'd saved her life. IfLaundress had attacked Jeanne or Cady, Maggie would have had to fight her. But I'm still not the Deliverer, she thought. I haveto explain that to them†¦. â€Å"And since she's the Deliverer, you're going tohelp us, right?† Jeanne was saying. â€Å"You're going to heal Cady and feed us and hide us and everything? And help Maggie find out what happened toher brother?† Maggie blinked, then grimaced. She could see Jeanne looking at her meaningfully. She shut hermouth. â€Å"I'll help you any way I can,† Laundress said.†But you'd better do your part. Do you have a plan, Deliverer?† Maggie rubbed her forehead. Things were happening very fast-but even if she wasn't the Deliverer, she hadcome to help the slaves get free. Maybe it didn't matter what they called her. She looked at Cady again, then at Jeanne, and at P.J., who was staring at her with shining confidence in her young eyes. Then she looked at thegirl named Soaker, who was wearing the sameexpression. Finally she looked into the gaunt, hard-bittenface of Laundress. There was no easy confidencehere, but there was that half-stifled look of hopedeep in the burning gaze. â€Å"I don't have a plan yet,† she said. â€Å"But Ill comeup with one. And I don't know if I can really helpyou people. But I'll try.†