All Quiet On The Western Front Essays (1050 words) - Free Essays

All Quiet On The Western Front Essays (1050 words) - Free Essays All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front is one of the greatest war novels of all time. It is a story, not of Germans, but of men, who even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war. The entire purpose of this novel is to illustrate the vivid horror and raw nature of war and to change the popular belief that war is an idealistic and romantic character. The story centers on Paul Ba?mer, who enlists in the German army with glowing enthusiasm. But in the course of war, he is consumed by it and in the end is "weary, broken, burnt out, rootless, and without hope." Through Ba?mer, Remarque examines how war makes man inhuman. He uses excellent words and phrases to describe crucial details to this theme. "The first bomb, the first explosion, burst in our hearts." Ba?mer and his classmates who enlisted into the army see the true reality of the war. They enter the war fresh from school, knowing nothing except the environment of hopeful youth and they come to a premature maturity with the war, their only home. "We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces. We are not youth any longer." They have lost their innocents. Everything they are taught, "the world of work, duty, culture, and progress" are not the slightest use to them because the only thing they need to know is how to survive. They need to know how to escape the shells as well as the emotional and psychological torment of the war. The war takes an heavy toll on the soldiers who fight in it. The terror of death will infest the minds of soldiers and bring about horrible images of death and destruction until they break down and go to pieces. "Every hour and everyday, every shell and every death cuts this thin [line of sanity], and the years waste it rapidly." In these dangerous moments, anybody would have gone mad, have deserted their post, or have fallen. It takes a special kind of soldier to deal with this emotional abuse; a soldier who will not go to pieces at the sight of a mutilated body; it takes a soldier like Ba?mer. Ba?mer has "grown accustomed to it; war is the cause of death like influenza and dysentery. The deaths are merely more frequent, more varied and terrible." He has rid himself of all feelings and thoughts. His emotions lie buried in the earth along with the soldiers who fell prey to them. His dullness protects him from going mad at the sight a slaughtered comrade or butchered friend. He wants to live at all costs so "every expression of his life must serve one purpose and one purpose only, preservation of existence, and he is absolutely focused on that." For the cost of life is the death of his emotions, his survival depends on it. Every shell that falls, every shot that fires, a soldier must face the possible certainty of death. To Ba?mer, death carries hand grenades and a bayonet, and a rifle really to take what he has long protected-his life. Whenever he looks into the eyes of an enemy soldier, he does not see a man, but sees death staring back at him. What can you do but fight back? He can not and will not coexist with you. It does not matter that he is a man of your same distinction; it does not matter if he has a mother, a father, a sister or a brother. All that matters is that he wants to take your life. The only way for you to live is to destroy him before he does destroys you. Your salvation means his sacrifice. The life of a man is the price you pay for your continual existence. Ba?mer would destroy him because he threatens his survival and his survival is most important. "We march up, moody or good-tempered soldiers-we reach the zone where the front begins and become on the instant animals." The fate of Ba?mer and the fate of all soldiers depends on their faith in their primal instincts.

Author Website Design Inspiration 5 Ideas to Build the Perfect Website

Author Website Design Inspiration 5 Ideas to Build the Perfect Website Author Website Design Inspiration: 5 Ideas From Bestselling Authors Author websites are the one place readers get to judge a book by its cover†¦ or in this case, the webpage. We’ve already written an extensive piece with tips for building an effective author website: 10 Tips to Build The Perfect Author Website,  but we thought we could go even further and offer you some actual  inspiration  and ideas to get started on yours.The main goal of your website is to allow you to connect with your readers, and help convert them into loyal customers. It’s obvious that authors are masters of language, but when it comes to the web, some don’t deem it necessary to have a strong internet presence. And that’s exactly where a dedicated reader can be made†¦or lost.  So the author website design inspiration you'll find in this post will be geared towards one main goal: creating loyal readers. Idea  #1: Adding teasers to your author websiteOnce an avid reader has finished a great book, they immediately want to read another; it’s an addiction. So when they make their way to your author website, the first thing they should see on your homepage is a feature on what you’re working on next. Readers want some exclusivity!Nothing is worse than finishing your new favorite book or the first book in a series and going to the author’s website to find out when the next one will be published and there’s absolutely zero information. It’s simply heartbreaking coming from a reader’s eyes and also from a marketing perspective.Case in point? If you're a loyal reader of George R.R. Martin's  A Song of Ice and Fire series (aka  Game of Thrones), you probably want to know when  Winds of Winter is going to be finished. So you head to the author's website, and†¦ you see this.We understand that being a published author means that you’r e extremely busy working on your next book, but creating a separate email account for the sole purpose of receiving feedback from your followers is extremely controlled and feasible. (And if you’re having a bad day, reading a little fan mail should cure that!)Similarly, designing the website so that the "Contact" page is immediately available from the menu is crucial. If people want to get in touch with you, your design should make  it as easy for them as you can.Also, if you’re feeling sociable, make it easy for your readers to find you on social media - Twitter, Instagram, Facebook  - with the help of push buttons. It will be easier to â€Å"like† what they tweet or tag you in and  if they tweet positive feedback, they’re marketing for you!Or you can try Nick Stephenson’s approach to staying in touch: homing pigeons 😉Idea  #4:  Make the best first impressionA reader coming to your website usually wants one thing: to know more about you. The first thing they'll do is click to your "bio" page. We know writers hate writing about themselves (unless you're a memoir writer!), but  you gotta give readers what they want, so feel free to  indulge yourself with  some healthy bragging.But  how do you write the ultimate author bio? The trick is to write more than one. As a writer, rewriting and re-editing comes with the territory. Write multiple versions of your bio blurb until you’ve broken down your shyness barrier and created a bio that truly defines you not only as an author, but also as a person. And continuing our point in idea  #2, continue to keep it fresh by updating it as you move along in your career.Now, since you're here for some inspiration, take a look at  Lindsay Buroker's bio page. It's  a great case in point  for being genuine and true to your  work. She’s honest, witty, and real in her bio blurb.Idea  #5:  The website as  an extension of your bookThere is one question we haven't addressed yet: how do you get  as many  readers as possible to actually go to your website?  The first thing  is to write a really really good book. The better the book, the more the author will want to learn more about you and your other work, and head to your website for that.Then, you need to make sure that you actually link to your website at the beginning and end of all your ebooks. You also need to make sure you pick a simple URL, like "firstnamelastname.com" or "seriesname.com." That way, your website will likely show up as the first result on Google when readers Google you.But the ultimate way to get authors to check out your site is to turn it into an extension of your book, by linking it to one of your characters, or places, or adding more to the story.  Not sure what we mean by that? You'll find some inspiration in ML Banner's story:"I had a character in the book who was a scientist and I thought: it’d be really cool if he had this res earch institute. So I created a persona for him online: a G+ profile, a Twitter account, and a website for the CMER Institute. The key was really to think from my character’s standpoint and see what I would do, in his place, to get the word out about this phenomenon that endangers the world.The beautiful thing about eBooks is the connectivity: you can embed hyperlinks. So I linked to this CMERI website where my character actually offered a free ebook called â€Å"The Apocalypse Survival Guide†. And I actually got over 1,200 downloads of that book. Some people even seem to believe that the CMERI is real, as I got a couple of media inquiries!"You have all the best practices in one: link to the website in the book, social media, free additional content, and a website that truly takes the story to another level. Of course, your author website's design should match the "branding" of your book or series, and ideally  feature  some of the imagery used on the cover. Our b est advice for that is to put  your author website design in the hands of a Reedsy professional.What are your favourite author websites out there? Which ones do you turn to for design inspiration? What other tips would you add to this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Rhetoric analysis of select paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rhetoric analysis of select paper - Essay Example He may have read several articles on epigenetics but he still is not worthy to refute Darwin’s theory. The first two paragraphs in the article is an enthymeme because a part of the argument of the author is missing. He talks of a missing full-day discovered by scientists, which was proven by a chapter in the bible. He then concludes his paragraph by stating that Darwin was wrong in his â€Å"myth† of creation. In this syllogism, the major premise is missing making the argument incomplete. It just suddenly concludes that Darwin’s theory is a mistake. Even in the title alone, Burkeman is successful at getting the attention of his readers. He uses kairos right at the start of the article. He takes advantage of the opportune time to capture his audience. What better time to catch the attention of the readers than at the beginning of the document. The title was skillfully worded to stimulate the readers’ views on Darwin’s theory and hopefully to keep the m stirred up during the duration of the argument the author wishes to expound. The title is pathos-driven because it tells the readers that everything they know about evolution is all wrong. This will evoke strong emotions on the readers who will be confused and probably ask themselves what then is the truth. The title alone will encourage people to read the article to find out why they are wrong and what then the right theory of evolution is. Burkeman also uses a play of words in his article, specifically when he used the words â€Å"nature† and â€Å"nurture†. He uses these words to further explain the concept of epigenetics. He uses these two words to describe about the effect of the environment, that is â€Å"nurture† and heredity, which is â€Å"nature†, on an individual’s descendants. The author displayed logos in his article by citing several experiments conducted by various scientists who question Darwin’s theory of evolution. He cit ed experiments such as the Swedish chicken which is a breakthrough in the field of epigenetics. Another experiment which Burkeman cited which illustrated his use of logos in trying to convey the idea he wished to espouse was the Norrbotten study on life spans. The idea that the author is trying to send to his readers was presented through a review of some literatures which delved on the topic of evolution. He gives his opinions on the book of David Shenk, â€Å"The Genius in All of Us†, the books of Dawkins, Dennett, Randy Thornhill and Craig Palmer’s â€Å"The Natural History of Rape†, Fodor and Piattelli-Palmarini’s book, â€Å"What Darwin Got Wrong†, the work of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and the research of Carl Woese and Nigel Goldenfield. He cites these studies in trying to prove wrong Darwin’s theory. Burkeman seems to contradict himself on his idea about Darwin’s theory of evolution. While his title implies that Darwin is wrong in his conclusions, in the end, he states that Darwin’s findings were the â€Å"beginning of journey to understand the origins and development of life† (Burkeman , par 30). Burkeman is quite illogical because he is contradicting himself. He refutes Darwin’s research largely in his article but in the end, he acknowledges Darwin’s work as being the stepping stone in further studies in evolution. In terms of style, Burkeman uses figurative language in his essay as exemplified in some statements such as, â€Å"I got up and refilled my cup†

Regression Report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Regression Report - Research Paper Example But again, what is its value against its color? May be she loves speed and that’s why she went for the Porsche and pink is the color to speed in. As a result, the underlying baseline requirement towards the selection of a pink Porsche reduces the disparity between new and used prices. This is the extent with which value of a car chips in. This is paramount towards a vehicle selection. If one doesn’t have cash to buy a Porsche, they should live according to their standards. A Porsche for instance is a fuel guzzler and even after parting with such a huge lump sum, one will still go deep in their pockets to cater for the fuel expenses. A car should not at any time be a liability to your financial status. Sooner or later you will be the laughing stock in your town. Fraser, Cynthia. Business Statistics for Competitive Advantage with Excel 2010: Basics, Model Building and Cases. New York: Springer, 2012.

Nation of Kurds Essay Example for Free

Nation of Kurds Essay The challenges revolving around deeper political, cultural and societal understanding has been one of the tenets surrounding ethnic conflict. With the diversity of cultures around the world, the creation of norms and practices among dominant groups often creates a clash among members of the minority – ethnic groups which in turn necessitates into conflicting ideals and values. Thus, the process of ethnic conflict occurs during the eventual analysis of how groups view the current status quo as a barrier for their practices and norms. Defining Ethnic Conflict In defining ethnic conflict, various scholars have come up with various interpretations on as to how such problem emanates. Due to the variety of conflicts and problems created by the said incident, creating a standardized definition would only broaden the scope of such area. Seeing this, various approaches have been made and created several theoretical bases for the explanation of the realm of ethnicity. Seeing this, it may be right to define ethnic conflict to be â€Å"particular kind of such disputes about political, economic, social, cultural or territorial issues between two or more actors in which at least one of them is an ethnic group that defines causes, consequences and potential solutions of the conflict along an actual or perceived discriminating or otherwise distinctive ethnic divide† (Wolff, 2006). The creation of such conflicting patterns necessitates groups to conduct violent means to address the issue and change the status quo. â€Å"Given the lack of agreement on both substance and process, parties tend to turn very often and easily to force-based options, because force seems to be the only common language that both sides understand and honor† (FPDL, 2006). In the end, there is a need for dialogue to cater better understanding and create necessities for change. â€Å"The potential of conflict to generate learning, stimulate creativity and deepen relationships is realized only if we are able to understand its underlying causes and to mutually recognize and respect each other right to address own needs† (FPDL, 2006). The Kurds: A brief historical review The Kurdish people in general are relatively large in number and comprise of various settlements living in various countries. â€Å"In 1987, estimates suggested that probably numbering close to 16 million Kurds, inhabits the wide arc from eastern Turkey and the northwestern part of Syria through Soviet Azerbaijan and Iraq to the northwest of the Zagros Mountains in Iran, represented the population of what has been referred to as Kurdistan† (Global Security.org, 2008). Kurdish movement in various places in the world can be attributed to many factors that have been evident in history. These significant events have been significant in migration of Kurds in different countries and societies. These examples â€Å"such as the failure and collapse of the Mehabad Republic in 1946, collapse of the movement in Southern Kurdistan in 1975, the use of chemical weapons by the Iraqi government against Halabja, Badinan and other areas of Iraqi Kurdistan, and the refugee exodus from there after the uprising and aftermath of the Second Gulf War in 1991† (Sheikhmous, 1998, p.1) Throughout history, the Kurdish people have sought for independence and the recognition as a national entity. However, all the bloody revolts that have been made were all in jeopardy as no movements have ever been successful in the practice. â€Å"Some of the frequent Kurdish revolts in the twentieth century have sought autonomy; others avowedly aimed at complete independence in a sovereign state† (Harris, 1977, p.113). In the end, such events catapulted the rise of many conflicts among neighboring states. This in turn ended up in the escalation of violence and conflict within the region. Inter-ethnic conflict The process of inter-ethnic conflict among the Kurds can be seen in their neighbors such as Iraq and Turkey. On the other hand, there are also incidents of conflict in the Southern Kurdistan and mainly involves the Iraqi KDP and KDPI. â€Å"Among the most obvious types of inter-ethnic conflicts are those that have taken place between the Kurds and the majority ethnic groups i.e. the Arabs and their power elites, since the establishment of the state of Iraq in the 1920’s and their inclusion into the state against the will of their own majority† (Sheikhmous, 1998, p.2) Conflict against neighbors Similarly, occurrence of conflict can also be cited by Kurds against several states bordering the region; namely Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq. These conflicts primarily occur due to the intervention of these states in the country’s political affairs and clashes with other ethnic groups. Kurdistan geographical position became an instrument for several states to equally pursue their interest over such region. This is done by â€Å"supporting one or the other party in the competition for power and resources, by inciting incidents of disagreements and war, and by luring one or the other party with false promises and temptations† (Sheikhmous, 1998, p.3) On the other hand, the same situation applies for Kurdish movements. They in turn are guaranteed support only to realize in the end that they become just pawns in the overall plans of each neighboring state. â€Å"The Kurdish movements, too, due to their consideration for their own sectarian interests only, rather than those of the Kurdish nation as a whole, become an easy prey to these cynical games of medieval power politics by the governments of these regional states† (Sheikhmous, 1998, p.3) In the end, the welfare of placed under jeopardy due to such interference and intervention of other states. Creating Solutions Seeing this, there are varied solutions practiced and suggested to improve the current scenario of ethnic conflict within the region. Neutral states can act as both mediators and negotiators in the peace talk’s process between two competing parties. â€Å"Strong mediation by forceful negotiations from the United States and Europe might be able to convince the two Kurdish parties in Iraqi Kurdistan and to return to a peaceful process with formation of a wider new coalition government and holding a new democratic elections under international supervision† (Sheikhmous, 1998, p.3). Economic benefits may be included in the talks so as to encourage parties and states to comply. With the help of international organizations such as the UN, the process can effectively create confidence-building measures and improvements in the region torn by continued conflict and violence. â€Å"A lifting of UN sanctions on Iraqi Kurdistan together with an increased package for economic aid will certainly influence the parties towards more cooperative relations because they will become more self reliant and escape influence from Iraq, Turkey, and Iran as a result of sanction busting along their borders along their borders for customs duties† (Sheikhmous, 1998, p.3). Lastly, peacekeeping solutions can be enforced and help create a better democratic society. In addition, there needs to be an active involvement among groups who partake in the process to create a civil society that addresses the concerns of these ethnic groups. With the â€Å"establishment of interest groups and institutions for the advancement and strengthening of a civil society together with institutions for the preservation of human rights and respect the rule of law together with well trained cadres in conflict resolution would further enhance cooperative relations within Kurdish society† (Sheikhmous, 1998, p.4). References FPDL (2006) What is Ethnic Conflict. Retrieved July 14, 2008 from http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:-wSNN0zz3F8J:www.fpdl.ro/WHAT_IS_ETHNIC_CONFLICT_EN.doc+defining+ethnic+conflicthl=tlct=clnkcd=1gl=ph Global Security.org (2008) Kurdistan – Kurdish Conflict. Retrieved July 14, 2008 from http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/kurdistan.htm Harris, G.S. (1977) Ethnic Conflict and the Kurds in Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 433. Retrieved July 14, 2008. pp. 112-124. Sheikhmous, O. (1998) Factors for Cooperation and Conflict in Southern Kurdistan. Retrieved July 14, 2008 from http://www.aina.org/articles/sheikhmous.pdf Wolff, S. (2006) Ethnic Conflict and How to explain It: An Overview of Relevant Theories Defining Ethnicity and Ethnic Conflict. Retrieved July 14, 2008 from http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:yMs7ugglbUEJ:www.stefanwolff.com/teaching/ethnic-conflict/downloads/lecture-1-notes.doc+defining+ethnic+conflicthl=tlct=clnkcd=7gl=ph

The Tragedy of William Shakespeares Hamlet Essay -- Tragedy William S

The Tragedy of William Shakespeare's Hamlet It seems that in this merciless mourning, I have opened a tomb. And though my sight be of seeing, it is not as it once was. For what I see is not with thine own eyes. It is as death appears to those awake. A coldness, an emptiness, that I cannot forsake. Hope Saphos DeVenuto A melody in literature is a language that Shakespeare uses freely in Hamlet with infinite variety. The imagery relates to us to create to the senses a realization of what is occurring as well as to kindle our responses. There are many interesting characters with invaluable opinions, a labyrinth of lines convoluting and mystifying, along with dramatic sarcasm. It is very effective in drawing the attention to certain characters that the audience will need to see more than others. If we really lend an ear to Hamlet's every word, we are drawn into an inward greatness of his spirit. Shakespeare created Hamlet as a highly intellectual being that can see through everything and everyone. To see clearly through a stone is to see the profundity of truth. Then ...

The Host EPILOGUE. Continued

I was not the same. This was my first rebirth into a body of the same species. I found the transfer much more difficult than changing planets because I had so many expectations about being human already in place. Also, I'd inherited a lot of things from Petals Open to the Moon, and not all of them were pleasant. I'd inherited a great deal of grief for Cloud Spinner. I missed the mother I'd never known and mourned for her suffering now. Perhaps there could be no joy on this planet without an equal weight of pain to balance it out on some unknown scale. I'd inherited unexpected limitations. I was used to a body that was strong and fast and tall-a body that could run for miles, go without food and water, lift heavy weights, and reach high shelves. This body was weak-and not just physically. This body seized up with crippling shyness every time I was unsure of myself, which seemed to be often these days. I'd inherited a different role in the human community. People carried things for me now and let me pass first into a room. They gave me the easiest chores and then, half the time, took the work right out of my hands anyway. Worse than that, I needed the help. My muscles were soft and not used to labor. I tired easily, and my attempts to hide that fooled no one. I probably couldn't have run a mile without stopping. There was more to this easy treatment than just my physical weakness, though. I was used to a pretty face, but one that people were able to look at with fear, mistrust, even hatred. My new face defied such emotions. People touched my cheeks often, or put their fingers under my chin, holding my face up to see it better. I was frequently patted on my head (which was in easy reach, since I was shorter than everyone but the children), and my hair was stroked so regularly that I stopped noticing when it happened. Those who had never accepted me before did this as often as my friends. Even Lucina put up only a token resistance when her children began following me like two adoring puppies. Freedom, in particular, crawled onto my lap at every opportunity, burrowing his face in my hair. Isaiah was too big for such displays of affection, but he liked to hold my hand-just the same size as his-while chattering excitedly with me about Spiders and Dragons, soccer and raids. The children still wouldn't go anywhere near Melanie; their mother had frightened them too thoroughly before for her reassurances to change things now. Even Maggie and Sharon, though they still tried not to look at me, could not maintain their former rigidity in my presence. My body was not the only change. The monsoons came late to the desert, and I was glad. For one thing, I'd never smelled the rain on the creosotes before-I could only vaguely remember it from my memories of Melanie's memories, a very dim trail of recall indeed-and now the scent washed out the musty caves, left them smelling fresh and almost spicy. The scent clung to my hair and followed me everywhere. I smelled it in my dreams. Also, Petals Open to the Moon had lived in Seattle all her life, and the unbroken streak of blue skies and blistering heat was as bewildering-almost numbing-to my system as the dark press of heavy overcast skies would have been to any of these desert dwellers. The clouds were exciting, a change from the bland, featureless pale blue. They had depth and movement. They made pictures in the sky. There was a great deal of reshuffling to be done in Jeb's caves, and the move to the big game room-now the communal sleeping quarters-was good preparation for more permanent arrangements to follow. Every space was needed, so rooms could not remain vacant. Still, only the newcomers, Candy-who had remembered her correct name at last-and Lacey, could bear to take Wes's old space. I pitied Candy for her future roommate, but the Healer never betrayed any discontent at the prospect. When the rains ended, Jamie would move into a free corner in Brandt and Aaron's cave. Melanie and Jared had kicked Jamie out of their room and into Ian's before I'd been reborn in Pet's body; Jamie wasn't so young that they'd needed to give him any excuse. Kyle was working on widening the small crevice that had been Walter's sleeping space so that it would be ready when the desert was dry again. It really wasn't big enough for more than one, and Kyle would not be staying there alone. At night in the game room, Sunny slept curled into a ball against Kyle's chest, like a kitten who was friends with a big dog-a rottweiler whom she trusted implicitly. Sunny was always with Kyle. I couldn't remember ever seeing them unattached since I'd opened these silver gray eyes for the first time. Kyle seemed constantly bemused, too distracted by this impossible relationship he couldn't quite wrap his head around to pay attention to much else. He wasn't giving up on Jodi, but as Sunny clung to him, he held her to his side with gentle hands. Before the rain, every space was taken, so I stayed with Doc in the hospital that no longer frightened me. The cots were not comfortable, but it was a very interesting place to be. Candy remembered the details of Summer Song's life better than her own; the hospital was a place of miracles now. After the rain, Doc would not be sleeping in the hospital anymore. The first night in the game room, Sharon had dragged her mattress right next to Doc's without a word of explanation. Perhaps it was Doc's fascination with the Healer that motivated Sharon, though I doubted Doc had even noticed how pretty the older woman was; his fascination was with her phenomenal knowledge. Or maybe it was just that Sharon was ready to forgive and forget. I hoped that was the case. It would be nice to think that even Sharon and Maggie might be softened over time. I would not stay in the hospital anymore, either. The crucial conversation with Ian might never have taken place if not for Jamie. My mouth would go all dry and my palms would sweat whenever I so much as thought of bringing it up. What if those feelings in the hospital, those few perfect moments of certainty right after I'd awoken in this body, had been illusion? What if I remembered them wrong? I knew that nothing had changed for me, but how could I be certain Ian felt the same? The body he'd fallen in love with was still right here! I expected him to be unsettled-we all were. If it was difficult for me, a soul used to such changes, how hard must it be for the humans? I was working to put the last of the jealousy and the perplexing echoes of the love I still felt for Jared behind me. I didn't need or want them. Ian was the right partner for me. But sometimes I would catch myself staring at Jared and feel confused. I'd seen Melanie touch Ian's arm or hand and then jerk away as if she'd suddenly remembered who she was. Even Jared, who had the least reason for uncertainty, would occasionally meet my confused gaze with a searching one of his own. And Ian†¦ Of course it must have been hardest for him. I understood that. We were together nearly as much as Kyle and Sunny. Ian constantly touched my face and hair, was always holding my hands. But who did not respond to this body that way? And wasn't it platonic for everyone else? Why didn't he kiss me again, the way he had that first day? Maybe he could never love me inside this body, as appealing as it seemed to be to all the other humans here. That worry was heavy in my heart the night Ian had carried my cot-because it was too heavy for me-to the big, dark game room. It was raining for the first time in more than six months. There were both laughter and complaints as people shook out their damp bedding and arranged their places. I saw Sharon with Doc and smiled. â€Å"Over here, Wanda,† Jamie called, waving me toward where he'd just set his mattress next to Ian's. â€Å"There's room for all three of us now.† Jamie was the one person who treated me almost exactly the same as before. He did make allowances for my puny physique, but he never seemed surprised to see me enter a room or shocked when Wanderer's words came through these lips. â€Å"You don't really want that cot, do you, Wanda? I'll bet we could all fit okay on the mattresses if we shoved them together.† Jamie grinned at me while he kicked one mattress into the other without waiting for agreement. â€Å"You don't take up much space.† He took the cot from Ian and set it on its side, out of the way. Then Jamie stretched out on the very edge of the far mattress and turned his back to us. â€Å"Oh, hey, Ian,† he added without turning. â€Å"I talked to Brandt and Aaron, and I think I'm going to move in with them. Well, I'm beat. Night, guys.† I stared at Jamie's unmoving form for a long moment. Ian was just as motionless. He couldn't have been having a panic attack, too, though. Was he thinking of some way to extricate himself from the situation? â€Å"Lights out,† Jeb bellowed from across the room. â€Å"Everybody shut yer trap so I can get some shut-eye.† People laughed, but took him seriously as always. One by one, the four lamps were dimmed until the room was black. Ian's hand found mine; it was warm. Did he notice how cold and sweaty my skin was? He sank to his knees on the mattress, tugging me gently along. I followed and lay down on the seam between the beds. He kept my hand. â€Å"Is this okay?† Ian whispered. There were other hushed conversations going on around us, made indistinct by the rush of the sulfur spring. â€Å"Yes, thank you,† I answered. Jamie rolled over, shaking the mattress and knocking into me. â€Å"Oops, sorry, Wanda,† he murmured, and then I heard him yawn. Automatically, I shifted out of his way. Ian was closer than I'd thought. I gasped quietly when I ran into him, then tried to give him some room. His arm was suddenly around me, holding me to his body. It was the strangest feeling; having Ian's arm around me in this very nonplatonic way reminded me oddly of my first experience with No Pain. Like I'd been in agony without realizing it, and his touch had taken all the hurt away. That feeling erased my shyness. I rolled so that I was facing him, and he tightened his arm around me. â€Å"Is this okay?† I whispered, repeating his question. He kissed my forehead. â€Å"Better than okay.† We were silent for a few minutes. Most of the other conversations had died out. He bent down so that his lips were at my ear and whispered, quieter than before, â€Å"Wanda, do you think†¦?† He fell silent. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"Well, it looks like I have a room all to myself now. That's not right.† â€Å"No. There's not enough space for you to be alone.† â€Å"I don't want to be alone. But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Why wouldn't he ask? â€Å"But what?† â€Å"Have you had enough time to sort things out yet? I don't want to rush you. I know it's confusing†¦ with Jared†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It took me a moment to process what he was saying, but then I giggled quietly. Melanie wasn't much given to giggling, but Pet had been, and her body betrayed me at this most inopportune moment. â€Å"What?† he demanded. â€Å"I was giving you time to sort things out,† I explained in a whisper. â€Å"I didn't want to rush you-because I know it's confusing. With Melanie.† He jumped just a little in surprise. â€Å"You thought†¦? But Melanie isn't you. I was never confused.† I was smiling in the dark now. â€Å"And Jared isn't you.† His voice was tighter when he answered. â€Å"But he's still Jared. And you love him.† Ian was jealous again? I shouldn't have been pleased by negative emotions, but I had to admit this was encouraging. â€Å"Jared is my past, another life. You are my present.† He was quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was rough with emotion. â€Å"And your future, if you want that.† â€Å"Yes, please.† And then he kissed me in the most unplatonic way possible under the crowded circumstances, and I was thrilled to remember that I'd been smart enough to lie about my age. The rains would end, and when they did, Ian and I would be together, partners in the truest sense. This was a promise and an obligation I had never had in all my lives. Thinking of it made me feel joyful and anxious and shy and desperately impatient all at the same time-made me feel human. After all this had been settled, Ian and I were more inseparable than ever. So when it came time for me to test my new face on the other souls, of course he went with me. This raid was a relief for me after long weeks of frustration. It was bad enough that my new body was weak and nearly useless in the caves; I couldn't believe it when the others didn't want to let me use my body for the one thing it was perfect for. Jared had specifically approved of Jamie's choice because of this guileless, vulnerable face that no one could ever doubt, this delicate build that anyone would be motivated to protect, but even he had a hard time putting his theory into practice. I was sure raiding would be every bit as easy for me now as it had been before, but Jared, Jeb, Ian, and the others-everyone but Jamie and Mel-debated for days, trying to find a way around using me for that. It was ridiculous. I saw them eyeing Sunny, but she was still unproven, not trusted. On top of that, Sunny had absolutely no intention of setting one foot outside. The very word raid had her cowering in terror. Kyle would not go out with us; Sunny had gone hysterical the one time he'd mentioned it. In the end, practicality had won out. I was needed. It was good to be needed. Supplies had been dwindling; this would be a long, thorough trip. Jared was leading the raid, as usual, so it went without saying that Melanie was included. Aaron and Brandt volunteered, not that we really needed the muscle; they were tired of being cooped up. We were going far to the north, and I was excited to see the new places-to feel the cold again. Excitement got a bit out of hand in this body. I was bouncy and hyper the night we drove to the rock slide where the van and the big moving truck were hidden. Ian was laughing at me because I could hardly hold still as we loaded the clothes and sundries we would need into the van. He held my hand, he said, to tether me to the surface of the planet. Was I too loud? Too oblivious to my surroundings? No, of course that was not it. There was nothing I could have done. This was a trap, and it was too late for us the minute we arrived. We froze when the thin beams of light shot out of the darkness into Jared's and Melanie's faces. My face, my eyes, the ones that might have helped us, stayed obscured, hidden in the shadow made by Ian's wide back. My eyes were not blinded by the glare, and the moon was bright enough for me to clearly see the Seekers that outnumbered us, eight to our six. Bright enough for me to see the way they held their hands, to see the weapons that glinted in them, raised and pointed at us. Pointed at Jared and Mel, at Brandt and Aaron-our only gun still undrawn-and one centered dead on Ian's chest. Why had I let him come with me? Why did he have to die, too? Lily's bewildered questions echoed in my head: Why did life and love go on? What was the point? My fragile little heart shattered into a million pieces, and I fumbled for the pill in my pocket. â€Å"Steady, now, everybody just keep calm,† the man in the center of the group of Seekers called out. â€Å"Wait, wait, don't be swallowing anything! Jeez, get a grip! No, look!† The man turned the flashlight on his own face. His face was sun browned and craggy, like a rock that had been eroded by the wind. His hair was dark, with white at the temples, and it curled in a bushy mess around his ears. And his eyes-his eyes were dark brown. Just dark brown, nothing more. â€Å"See?† he said. â€Å"Okay, now, you don't shoot us, and we won't shoot you. See?† And he laid the gun he was carrying to the ground. â€Å"C'mon, guys,† he said, and the others slid their guns back into holsters-on their hips, their ankles, their backs†¦ so many weapons. â€Å"We found your cache here-clever, that; we were lucky to find it-and decided we'd hang out and make your acquaintance. It's not every day you find another rebel cell.† He laughed a delighted laugh that came from deep in his belly. â€Å"Look at your faces! What? Did you think you all were the only ones still kickin'?† He laughed again. None of us had moved an inch. â€Å"Think they're in shock, Nate,† another man said. â€Å"We scared them half to death,† a woman said. â€Å"What do you expect?† They waited, shuffling from foot to foot, while we stood frozen. Jared was the first to recover. â€Å"Who are you?† he whispered. The leader laughed again. â€Å"I'm Nate-nice to meet you, though you might not feel the same way just yet. This here's Rob, Evan, Blake, Tom, Kim, and Rachel along with me.† He gestured around the group as he spoke, and the humans nodded at their names. I noticed one man, a little to the back, whom Nate did not introduce. He had bright, crinkly ginger hair that stood out-especially because he was the tallest in the group. He alone seemed to be unarmed. He was also staring intently at me, so I looked away. â€Å"There's twenty-two of us altogether, though,† Nate continued. Nate held out his hand. Jared took a deep breath and then a step forward. When he moved, the rest of our little group silently exhaled all at once. â€Å"I'm Jared.† He shook Nate's hand, then started to smile. â€Å"This is Melanie, Aaron, Brandt, Ian, and Wanda. There are thirty-seven of us altogether.† When Jared spoke my name, Ian shifted his weight, trying to obscure me completely from the other humans' view. It was only then that I realized I was still in just as much danger as the others would have been in if these had been Seekers. Just like in the beginning. I tried to hold perfectly still. Nate blinked at Jared's revelation, and then his eyes widened. â€Å"Wow. That's the first time I've ever been one-upped on that one.† Now Jared blinked. â€Å"You've found others?† â€Å"There are three other cells separate from ours that we know of. Eleven with Gail, seven with Russell, and eighteen with Max. We keep in touch. Even trade now and then.† Again, the belly laugh. â€Å"Gail's little Ellen decided she wanted to keep company with my Evan here, and Carlos took up with Russell's Cindy. And, of course, everyone needs Burns now and then -† He stopped talking abruptly, glancing uneasily around him, as if he'd said something he shouldn't have. His eyes rested briefly on the tall redhead in the back, who was still staring at me. â€Å"Might as well get that out of the way,† the small dark man at Nate's elbow said. Nate shot a suspicious glance across our little line. â€Å"Okay. Rob's right. Let's get this out there.† He took a deep breath. â€Å"Now, you all just take it easy and hear us out. Calmly, please. This upsets people sometimes.† â€Å"Every time,† the one named Rob muttered. His hand drifted to the holster on his thigh. â€Å"What?† Jared asked in a flat voice. Nate sighed and then gestured to the tall man with the ginger red hair. The man stepped forward, a wry smile on his face. He had freckles, like me, only thousands more. They were scattered so thick across his face that he looked dark skinned, though he was fair. His eyes were dark-navy blue, maybe. â€Å"This here is Burns. Now, he's with us, so don't go crazy. He's my best friend-saved my life a hundred times. He's one of our family, and we don't take kindly to it when people try to kill him.† One of the women slowly pulled her gun out and held it pointed at the ground. The redhead spoke for the first time in a distinctly gentle tenor voice. â€Å"No, it's okay, Nate. See? They've got one of their own.† He pointed straight at me, and Ian tensed. â€Å"Looks like I'm not the only one who's gone native.† Burns grinned at me, then crossed the empty space, the no-man's-land between the two tribes, with his hand stretched out toward me. I stepped out from around Ian, ignoring his muttered warning, abruptly comfortable and sure. I liked the way Burns had phrased it. Gone native. Burns stopped in front of me, lowering his hand a bit to compensate for the considerable difference in our heights. I took his hand-it was hard and callused next to my delicate skin-and shook it. â€Å"Burns Living Flowers,† he introduced himself. My eyes widened at his name. Fire World-how unexpected. â€Å"Wanderer,† I told him. â€Å"It's†¦ extraordinary to meet you, Wanderer. And here I thought I was one of a kind.† â€Å"Not even close,† I said, thinking of Sunny back in the caves. Perhaps we were none of us as rare as we thought. He raised an eyebrow at my answer, intrigued. â€Å"Is that so?† he said. â€Å"Well, maybe there's some hope for this planet, after all.† â€Å"It's a strange world,† I murmured, more to myself than to the other native soul. â€Å"The strangest,† he agreed.