How have Laptops Shaped our World?

How have Laptops Shaped our World? Bilal Irfan The invention of the laptop is one of the most remarkable innovations that has occurred in our modern world. A laptop is a little, convenient personal computer, that is portable and suitable for use during different occurrences including traveling. After the development of a personal computer on January 1st, 1971, engineers and scientists wished to on such a technology, and by the start of 1981, the first laptop known as Osborne 1 was released. Laptops have impacted society and shaped our world in numerous methods that we have only just started to discover. It is difficult to think back and say who invented the laptop. The idea of a computer can be dated back to when individuals utilized math device to do redundant count in 300 B.C. After more than 2000 years of enhancements, a mechanical computer was developed in the twentieth century, which played out a couple capacities and was immense in size. In 1968, the first laptop known as the Dynabook was developed by Alan Key. It didnt get much consideration since it couldnt perform many errands and was not very helpful. However, it made the stage for an imaginative development that would change the world. A decade later, in 1979, William Moggridge made the clamshell notebook computer, the Grid Compass 1100. Though these initial  developments and designs faded out, only a few years later in 1983, the first device or machine to be marketed as a laptop was sold, Gavilan SC. Shortly after, rivaling companies emerged that improved and perfected the technology, leading to our present day laptops . Laptops have extraordinarily affected the world. Two decades prior, who could have imagined that we would convey our very own personal computers with us wherever we go? They are a standout among the most helpful and affecting creations of the 21st century. Some time recently, one had to be in an office or at home with a desktop to complete work or peruse the web. Now, one can be outside, in a coffee shop, or wherever and still have the capacity to work. Additionally, students can learn and take notes all the more successfully in class now because of the laptop. Even in day to day things, laptops come as a convenience and save a load of time such can be seen in transportation. Airways, Roadways and waterways use laptops to control their operation. It saves time and relieves the severity of traveling difficulties. Other utility facilities like Electricity, Water, Agriculture, etc. are more sophisticated and improved by laptop influence. Laptops also serve a vital role in the medical fi eld, as patient data and medical information is stored inside of a laptop. Despite the fact that the laptop is an extremely imaginative and valuable innovation, it has its faults. Laptops are difficult to upgrade. In this way, when one purchases a laptop he or she is stuck with it for 3-4 years after which the laptop begins having issues. By then the laptop ought to be replaced. Since the moment laptops were invented, a world of new ideas, inventions, and ease was opened up. Yet, along with the many benefits of a laptop, there are evident and harmful drawbacks. Laptops and their relative ease to carry around and use whenever free has resulted in addiction for some users. According to the University of Stanford, 160 million American use laptops on a general day to day basis, with 5.9% of them believing that relationships suffered due to excessive internet use. Laptop addiction has resulted in various health issues including but not limited to shoulder cramps, vision fatigues, pain in the neck. Government agencies have started programs and invested money into researching about laptop addiction, and finding solutions to the problem without reducing the positive impact of laptops on society. In China, the government started a 3 week summer camp program where children are exposed to nature and wilderness, away from any laptops. This has resulted in a positive imp act on the childrens lives, enabling them to understand the dangers of laptop addiction and how to stay away from it. Laptops are one of the most revolutionary and useful items we use in the 21st Century. They have made our lives more convenient and easier. One can work, surf the internet, and carry out various other tasks almost any place you go. There are many advantages to having a laptop, however, everything has its disadvantages as well.   The advantages include its portability and convenience. Its disadvantages are that some of its features are not as strong as a desktops such as processor speed and memory. There has been great progress made in the computer industry which has led to the laptops of today and it continuing to be made. Laptops have a very bright future with many useful and innovative designs and versions to come. Laptops continue to impact our lives and society till today, and further advancements will only improve upon that impact.   Ã‚   Works Cited Admin. Computers How They Have Changed Our Lives. Technology News Reviews Information about Mobile Computers Software Electronics. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017. Computers and Their Impact. Computers and Their Impact. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017. Lopol.org. Computers and Our Life: How Have Computers Changed Our Life? | Lopol.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017. Maliki-liki. Laptops and How They Have Changed the World. Laptops and How They Have Changed the World. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 10 Feb. 2017.

Cosmic Irony in Stephen Cranes The Open Boat :: Open Boat Essays

Cosmic Irony in Stephen Crane's The Open Boat Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat," is thought to be one of the finest stories ever written by an American. Crane uses a theme of cosmic irony. Cosmic irony is the belief that the universe is so large and man is so small that the universe is indifferent to the plight of man. In "The Open Boat," Crane's theme, cosmic irony, is illustrated through the use of symbols for isolation, insignificance, and indifference. Three specific examples of cosmic irony symbolism used by Crane are, the power of the ocean against the insignificance of the boat, the sea against the universe, and the little boat in a vast sea from the people on the shore. The indifference aspect of cosmic irony is where things serve no purpose, and there is truly no care for anyone or anything. In "The Open Boat," the power of the ocean against the insignificance of the boat, is a prime example of indifference used by Crane. The universe is represented by the power of the ocean, and the small boat in this ocean is symbolic of man in this giant universe. The immaculate power of the ocean is very indifferent to the small boat, just as our great universe could not care less for man. Insignificance is described as being a lack of importance. Those little things that are insignificant mean nothing to the universe. In "The Open Boat," the sea against the universe is symbolic of insignificance in cosmic irony. The sea represents something which seems very large to mankind, but is actually very insignificant in comprison to the universe. The universe would still go on without that sea, just like the universe would still go on without mankind. The third form of symbolism in cosmic irony is isolation. Isolation is being held in captivity or lack of contact with the world or universe. The little boat in a vast sea versus the people on the shore is symbolic of isolation. The small boal seems so large and important to the people on it, while the people on the shore just see this small boat as one of many objects in

Is Meursault Heroic in Albert Camus The Stranger? Essays -- Albert Ca

Is Meursault Heroic in The Outsider?       When Meursault is described to us in the early stages of "The Outsider" we see that he does not obey society's codes therefore is it fair for us to assess him using societies interpretation of "heroic"?    If we are to judge him by them then we are given ample examples throughout the novel of his having no compassion or even of his thinking of the consequences of his actions, hardly heroic, but the converse is also demonstrated in many places.   An example of the former is when Raymond asks Meursault to "draft" a letter to an Arab prostitute.   Meursault knows what will result from his actions but seems unemotional and views the letter as being a favour for a friend and not a vicious conspiracy.   This lack of emotion is reinforced when the prostitute is beaten up by Raymond and Meursault remains impartial whilst his girlfriend, Marie, thought it was " terrible" and is sickened by the beating.   Another display of his apathetic views is in the opening lines "Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know"   This indicates that either he does not care or he had no comprehension of what had happened.   An additional illustration of his detached attitude is after his mothers funeral when he goes to see a humorous "Fernandel" film with Marie, his girlfriend, and then he takes her home and sleeps with her just hours after his Mothers funeral.   This indicates that aswell as having a detached viewpoint that he has no perception of morality.   A section of the novel that reinforces this occurs that after the murder when he is in jail; he never mentions the Arab at all; it is as if he does not... ... monther's funeral is liable to be condemned to death", Meursault is condemned as he does not conform and people cannot understand him.   In my opinion Meursault is admirable as despite his imminent conviction he maintains his unconventional viewpoint and standards throughout the novel.   He is a "man who, without any heroic pretensions, agrees to die for the truth".   In my opinion this is the essence of Meursaults character, if he believes in it not even death will alter his views.    Works Cited and Consulted:    Akeroyd, Richard H. The Spiritual Quest of Albert Camus. Alabama: Portals Press, 1976. Camus, Albert. The Stranger. New York: Random House, Inc., 1988. King, Adele. Camus. Oliver and Boyd Ltd. 1964. 120. McCarthy, Patrick. The Stranger. University of Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.   

Investigating Resistances of Wires :: Papers

Investigating Resistance's of Wires Aim: To investigate different resistances of wires to see which has the most resistance and which shows the least resistance. I will be looking at resistances affected by the length of wire. Variables I could change: I had the choice of several variables to change such as length, cross sectional area, material and temperature the experiment is conducted at. Prediction: I believe that by increasing the wire's length it would increase the resistance. Therefor by decreasing the length it would also decrease the resistance. I also believe that the rate of the increasing resistance will be directly proportional to the length so if the length were doubled the resistance would also double. I think the graph will look like this: Reason: The property that transforms electrical energy into heat energy, in opposing electrical current, is resistance. A property of the atoms of all conductors is that they have free electrons in the outer shell of their structure. As a result of the structure of all conductive atoms, the outer electrons are able to move about freely even in a solid. When there is a potential difference across a conductive material all of the free electrons arrange themselves in lines moving in the same direction. This forms an electrical current. Resistance is encountered when the charged particles that make up the current collide with other fixed particles in the material. As the resistance of a material increases so to must the force required to drive the same amount of current. (Information found on a GCSE Physics website) Ohm's law: In1826 Georg Ohm discovered that the current flowing through the wire is proportional to the potential difference across it (providing the temperature stays the same.) 'Proportional' means if you double the potential difference the current is doubled (this information was found in GCSE Physics for you text book) Current through the wire [IMAGE] Amps Volts

Comparasion and contrast paper on conventional and organic food products Essay

While conventional food products are still dominating American market, the phrase â€Å"healthy eating† is gradually gaining popularity. To supplement this new trendy belief, a wave of organic products is sweeping across this nation’s grocery stores. But do people really realize the differences between conventional and organic products as they mound their shopping carts? Do they know that the main differences between the two categories of foods actually lie in their processing procedures, advertising strategies, and product ingredients? When people look at an organic product, the first thing they are most likely to notice is its cost. Which, under normal circumstances, is remarkably higher than average products. Since people have the misconception that the word â€Å"organic† on food labels means â€Å"all natural,† they accepted this phenomenon as a necessary price to pay for a healthy life, but it merely indicates that the product is minimally processed and is preservative free. The true reason behind the intimidating price of organic product is because organic production prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides as well as genetic manipulation of plants. These standards require greater labor input from organic farmers to provide a purer product, and at the same time help to protect our environment. People expect a â€Å"fair price† for conventional foods, because they are well informed of its manufacturing process. Modern machinery allows factories to undergo mass-production, thus little manual labor is required. This not only leads to increments in the yield, but also lowers the overall cost of production. Though the reasonable price of conventional products is beneficial to one’s budget, chemical preservatives are used during the manufacturing process. Conventional cropping practices may also include a combination fungicide/insecticide treatment to protect the seed from soil diseases and insects, which poses potential harm to our health and environment. Since the prices of organic products are far from alluring, and at the same time tend to have less variety, organic producers advertise their products by their nutritional appeals. Ostentatious statements such as â€Å"good for life†, or â€Å"nature’s best† are printed unsparingly on the packages; accompanied by idealized pictures of nature. TV commercials for organic products are rarely seen; if people happen to see one, they will find themselves viewing a beautiful field of crops or a lively farm with cows mooing and chickens cackling. A middle-aged man in agrarian overalls will then come along to accentuate the freshness of their products with earnest. The popular demand for conventional food generates large profit for conventional food producers, which enables them to innovate more varieties of products and to advertise their products more efficiently on TV commercials. The majority of these commercials take place away from rural settings; they are either in a nice house, a fancy restaurant, or some imaginary land. While the well-dressed actors and actresses are feasting on the food products, a confident male voice will pop up in the background to announce that their products are better than those of others. Other than well-animated TV commercials, imagery also plays a key role in packaging. The producers wrap their products up in boxes that are covered by bright colors and decorated with popular food icons to attract consumers’ attention. Messages such as â€Å"50% more volume† or â€Å"free CD inside† can also be found on packages for promotion purposes. Nutritionists are placing an unprecedented amount of emphasize on organic products, which makes people feel compelled to read the list of ingredients before buying it. That’s when the buyers will be pleasantly surprised to discover that they can actually understand the list. For instance, the ingredients of organic milk are simply: certified organic grade A milk, and Vitamin D3. This unique feature not only helps consumers to identify an organic product, but also provides a sense of security when people consume the product. When people pick up a conventional product, they glance at it to check for defects, and then toss it into the cart. It is unlikely that anyone is going to read the ingredient list closely. Not only because people are so used to the products they use, that they tend to neglect the details, but also because the ingredient list of a conventional product is nearly meaningless to the consumers. Reading the ingredient list of a processed food is like reading data from a chemistry book; it is incomprehensible and boring. For example, a simple bottle of conventional milk can consist up to four kinds of added chemicals. Therefore, the long list of scientific components does nothing more than bewilders the customers. Even though organic foods differ from conventional foods in many aspects, study shows that there are no substantial differences between their taste and safety. Buying an organic product is more of an act of protecting the environment than promoting one’s own health. If consumers’ budget allows, they should buy more organic products, because it is a simple way of giving back to the Mother Nature, and help to preserve biological stability on earth.

Coca Cola and Pepsi Profitability Analysis Essay

Gross profit margin(2013) = 100 Ãâ€" 28,433/46,854 = 60.68% Gross profit margin(2012) = 100 x 28,964/ 48,017=60.32% Gross profit margin(2011) = 100 x 28,326 = 60.86% Source: PepsiCo Inc. Annual Reports Gross profit margin (2013) = 100 x 35,172/66,415 = 52.96% Gross profit margin (2012) = 100 x 34,201/65,492 = 52.22% Gross profit margin (2011) = 100 x 34,911/66,504 = 52.49% Gross profit margin is a resource for paying extra expenses and future cutbacks. Coca-Cola Co. gross profit margin declined from 2011 to 2012 but then inclined from 2012 to 2013. However, it did not reach the level of 2011. PepsiCo Inc.’s gross profit margin, on the other hand, decreased from 2011 to 2012 however it improved from 2012 to 2013 go over 2011’s level. Comparing the two companies, Coca-Cola Co. has a higher gross profit margin which shows superior fraction of revenue existing to coat operating and other costs. Net Profit Margin (USD $ in Millions) Coca-Cola Co. 2013 2012 2011 Net Income Before Minority Share of Earnings, Equity Income, and Nonrecurring items 8,584 9,019 8,572 Net Sales 46,854 48,017 46,542 Net Profit Margin 18.32 % 18.78 % 18.42 % Source: Coca-Cola Co. Annual Reports Net Profit Margin (2013) = 100 x 8,584/ 46,854 = 18.32% Net Profit Margin (2012) = 100 x 9,019/48,017 = 18.78% Net Profit Margin (2011) = 100 x 8,572/46,542 = 18.42% PepsiCo 2013 2012 2011 Net Income Before Minority Share of Earnings, Equity Income, and Nonrecurring Items 6,740 6,178 6,443 Net Sales 66,415 65,492 66,504 Net profit margin 10.15 % 9.43 % 9.69 % Source: PepsiCo Inc. Annual Reports Net Profit Margin(2013) = 100 x 6,740/66,415 = 10.15% Net Profit Margin(2012) = 100 x 6,178/65,492 = 9.43% Net Profit Margin(2011) = 100 x 6,443/66,504 = 9.690% Net profit margin is an indicator â€Å"of profitability, computed as net income divided by revenue. It measures how much out of every dollar of sales a company actually keeps in earningsâ€Å".(Wintner & Tardif, 2006, p349)Coca-Cola Co. net profit margin improved as of 2011 to 2012 although decreased drastically starting 2012 to 2013.PepsiCo Inc. net profit margin go down beginning of year 2011 to year 2012 but after that recovered from 2012 to 2013 going beyond the level of 2011. The figures above indicate that Coca-Cola Co. has a elevated profit margin compare to PepsiCo Inc., which indicates more cost-effective corporation which better control its costs compared to Coca-Cola Inc. Total Asset Turnover (USD $ in Millions) Source: Coca-Cola Co. Annual Reports Total assets turnover(2013) = 46854/90055 = 0.52 Total assets turnover(2012) = 48017/86174 = 0.56 Total assets turnover(2011) = 46542/79974 = 0.58 PepsiCo Inc. 2013 2012 Net revenue 66415 65492 Total assets 77478 74638 Total assets turnover 0.85 0.87 Source: PepsiCo Inc. Annual Reports Total assets turnover (2013) = 66415/77478 = 0.85 Total assets turnover (2012) = 65492/74638 = 0.87 Coca-Cola Co.’s net profit margin enhanced from 2011 to 2012 nevertheless go  down considerably as of 2012 toward 2013. PepsiCo Inc.’s net profit margin, on the other hand, worsens since 2011 to year 2012 but raised the following year exceeding the level of 2011. The figures above indicate that PepsiCo Inc. has a higher Total Assets Turnover comparing to Coca-Cola Co. which shows that PepsiCo turns its assets faster into sales. Asset Turnover is connected to Return on Assets (ROA) through Du Pont formula. DuPont Return on Assets (ROA) (USD $ in Millions) Coca-Cola Co. 2013 2012 2011 Net Profit Margin 18.32% 18.78% 18.42% Asset Turnover 0.52 0.56 0.58 Return on Assets(ROA) 9.52 10.51 10.68 Source: Coca-Cola Co. Annual Reports ROA(2013) = 18.32% x 0.52 = 9.52 ROA(2012) = 18.78% x 0.55 = 10.51 ROA(2011) = 18.42% x 0.58 = 10.68 PepsiCo Inc. 2013 2012 Net Profit Margin 10.15% 9.43% Asset Turnover 0.85 0.87 Return on Assets (ROA) 8.62 8.20 Source: PepsiCo Inc. Annual Reports ROA(2013) = 10.15% x 0.85 = 8.62 ROA(2012) = 9.43% x 0.87 = 8.20 The ROA numbers provides investors with an overview of how efficiently the business is converting the investment into net income. (Gibson, 2009) Coca-Cola Co. ROA decreased starting of 2011 to 2012 as well as as of 2012 towards 2013. PepsiCo Inc. ROA, on the other hand, declined from year 2011 to 2012’s level however later inclined since 2012 towards 2013, however it did not reach the level of 201l. Nevertheless, Coca-Cola has a higher the ROA numbers compare to PepsiCo. which shows that the business earns more capital on a smaller amount of investment. DuPont Return on Equity(ROE) (USD $ in Millions) Coca-Cola Co. 2013 2012 2011 Net Income 8,584 9,019 8,584 Total Shareholder Equity 33,173 32,790 31,635 Return on Equity (ROE) 25.87% 27.50% 27.13% Source: Coca-Cola Co. Annual Reports ROE(2013) =100 x 8,584/33,173 = 25.87% ROE(2012) = 100 x 9,019/32,790 = 27.50% ROE(2011) = 100 x 8,584/31,635 = 27.13% PepsiCo Inc. 2013 2012 2011 Net Income 6,740 6,178 6,443 Total Shareholder Equity 24,279 22,294 20,588 Return on Equity(ROE) 27.76 % 27.71 % 31.29 % Source: PepsiCo Inc. Annual Reports ROE (2013) = 100 x 6,740/24,279 = 27.76% ROE(2012) = 100x 6,178/ 22,294 = 27.71% ROE(2011) = 100 x 6,443/20,588 = 31.29% Return on Equity (ROE) determines how sound a company makes use of reinvested earnings to make more earnings. ROE is utilized as a common hint of the business effectiveness. In other words, what amount of revenue the business is capable to generate with the resources provided by its stockholders. (Gibson,2009) Coca-Cola Co.’s ROE increased as of 2011 towards 2012 except that later declined considerably from 2012 to 2013.PepsiCo Inc.’s ROE, on the other hand, decreased starting year 2011 to 2012 but then slightly rise  up from 2012 to 2013. Based on the numbers above, we can conclude that PepsiCo Inc. has a competitive advantage over Coca-Cola Co. because it has a higher ROE, which means that is growing profits without pouring new capitals into business. References Wintner, S., Tardif, M. (2006)Financial Management for Design Professionals: The Path to Profitability. MA: Kaplan AEC Education. Retrived from: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/abercrombie-fitch-no-profits-just-225850116.html?&session-id=7b3af266ae1a387aaf0cfe6dca24ba10 Gibson, C. (2009)Financial Reporting & Analysis. Using Financial Accounting Information (11the Ed) MA: South-Western Cengage Learning, Mason,OH

Spirit Bound Chapter Six

â€Å"YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED?† I was sitting between Eddie and Lissa, on our flight from Seattle to Fairbanks. As the shortest–marginally–and the mastermind, I'd gotten stuck with the middle seat. â€Å"A new plan?† asked Lissa. â€Å"A miracle?† asked Eddie. I paused and glared at them both before responding. Since when had they become the comedians here? â€Å"No. Stuff. We need cool gadgets if we're going to pull this off.† I tapped the prison blueprint that had been on my lap for almost every part of our trip so far. Mikhail had dropped us off at a small airport an hour away from the Court. We'd caught a commuter flight from there to Philadelphia, and from there to Seattle and now Fairbanks. It reminded me a little of the crazy flights I'd had to take from Siberia back to the U.S. That journey had also gone via Seattle. I was starting to believe that city was a gateway to obscure places. â€Å"I thought the only tools we needed were our wits,† mused Eddie. He might be serious about his guardian work most of the time, but he could also turn on his dry humor when relaxed. Not that he was totally at ease with our mission here, now that he knew more of (but not all) the details. I knew he'd snap back into readiness once we landed. He'd been understandably shocked when I'd revealed we were freeing Victor Dashkov. I hadn't told Eddie anything about Dimitri or spirit, only that getting Victor out played a larger role in the greater good. Eddie's trust in me was so implicit that he'd taken me at my word and pursued the issue no further. I wondered how he'd react when he learned the truth. â€Å"At the very least, we're going to need a GPS,† I said. â€Å"There's only latitude and longitude on this thing. No real directions.† â€Å"Shouldn't be hard,† said Lissa, turning a bracelet over and over in her hands. She'd opened her tray and spread out Tasha's jewelry across it. â€Å"I'm sure even Alaska has modern technology.† She'd also turned on a droll attitude, even with anxiety radiating through the bond. Eddie's good mood faded a little. â€Å"I hope you aren't thinking of guns or anything like that.† â€Å"No. Absolutely not. If this works how we want, no one will even know we're there.† A physical confrontation was likely, but I hoped to minimize serious injury. Lissa sighed and handed me the bracelet. She was worried because a lot of my plan depended on her charms–literally and figuratively. â€Å"I don't know if this'll work, but maybe it'll give you more resistance.† I took the bracelet and slipped it on my wrist. I felt nothing, but I only rarely did with charmed objects. I'd left Adrian a note saying that Lissa and I had wanted to escape for a â€Å"girls' getaway† before my assignment and her college visit. I knew he'd be hurt. The girl angle would carry a lot of weight, but he'd feel injured at not being invited along on a daring vacation–if he even believed we were on one. He probably knew me well enough by now to guess most of my actions had ulterior motives. My hope was that he'd spread the story to Court officials when our disappearance was noticed. We'd still get in trouble, but a wild weekend was better than a prison break. And honestly, how could things get worse for me? The one flaw here was that Adrian could visit my dreams and grill me on what was really going on. It was one of the more interesting–and occasionally annoying–spirit abilities. Lissa hadn't learned to walk dreams, but she had a crude underst anding of the principle. Between that and compulsion, she'd tried to charm the bracelet in a way that would block Adrian when I slept later. The plane began its descent into Fairbanks, and I gazed out the window at tall pines and stretches of green land. In Lissa's thoughts, I read how she'd been half-expecting glaciers and snowbanks, despite knowing it was full summer here. After Siberia, I'd learned to keep an open mind about regional stereotypes. My biggest concern was the sun. It had been full daylight when we'd left the Court, and as our travels took us west, the time zone change meant that the sun stayed with us. Now, though it was almost nine in the evening, we had a full, sunny blue sky, thanks to our northern latitude. It was like a giant safety blanket. I hadn't mentioned this to Lissa or Eddie, but it seemed likely Dimitri would have spies everywhere. I was untouchable at St. Vladimir's and the Court, but his letters had clearly stated he'd be waiting for me to leave those boundaries. I didn't know the extent of his logistics, but humans watching the Court in daylight wouldn't have surprised me. And even though I'd left hidden in a trunk, there was a strong possibility that Dimitri was already in pursuit. But the same light that guarded the prisoners would keep us safe too. We'd barely have a few hours of night to guard against, and if we pulled this off quickly, we'd be out of Alaska in hardly any time at all. Of course, that might not be such a good thing. We'd lose the sun. Our first complication came after we landed and tried to rent a car. Eddie and I were eighteen, but none of the car companies would rent to anyone so young. After the third refusal, my anger began to grow. Who would have thought we'd be delayed by something so idiotic? Finally, at a fourth counter, the woman hesitantly told us that there was a guy about a mile from the airport who would likely rent us a car if we had a credit card and a big enough deposit. We made the walk in pleasant weather, but I could tell the sun was starting to bother Lissa by the time we reached our destination. Bud–of Bud's Rental Cars–didn't seem quite as sleazy as expected and did indeed rent us a car when we produced enough money. From there, we got a room at a modest motel and went over our plans again. All our information indicated that the prison ran on a vampire schedule, which meant this was their active time of the day. Our plan was to stay in the hotel until the following day, when the Moroi â€Å"night† came, and catch some sleep beforehand. It gave Lissa more time to work on her charms. Our room was easily defendable. My sleep was Adrian-free, for which I was grateful, meaning he'd either accepted the girl trip or couldn't break through Lissa's bracelet. In the morning, we rustled up some doughnuts for breakfast and ate a little bleary-eyed. Running against our vampire schedule was throwing us all off a little. The sugar helped kick-start us, though, and Eddie and I left Lissa around ten to go do some scouting. We bought my coveted GPS and a few other things at a sporting goods store along the way and used it to navigate remote country roads that seemed to lead nowhere. When the GPS claimed we were a mile from the prison, we pulled off to the side of a small dirt road and set off on foot across a field of tall grass that stretched endlessly before us. â€Å"I thought Alaska was tundra,† said Eddie, crunching through the tall stalks. The sky was blue and clear again, with only a few clouds that did nothing to keep the sun away. I'd started out in a light jacket but now had it tied around my waist as I sweated. Occasionally a welcome gust of wind would roll through, flattening the grass and whipping my hair around. â€Å"I guess not all parts. Or maybe we have to go further north. Oh, hey. This looks promising.† We came to a stop before a high, barbwire fence with an enormous PRIVATE PROPERTY–NO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ALLOWED sign on it. The lettering was red, apparently to emphasize how serious they were. Personally, I would have added a skull and crossbones to really drive the message home. Eddie and I studied the fence for a few moments, then gave each other resigned glances. â€Å"Lissa will heal up anything we get,† I said hopefully. Climbing barbed wire isn't impossible, but it's not fun. Tossing my jacket on the wires I had to grip went a long way to protect me, but I still ended up with some scratches and snagged clothing. Once I was at the top, I jumped down, preferring the jolting landing to another climb down. Eddie did the same, grimacing at the hard impact. We walked a little farther, and then the dark line of a building came into sight. We both came to a halt as one and knelt down, seeking what coverage we could in the grass. The prison file had indicated that they had cameras on the outside, which meant we risked detection if we got too close. I'd bought high-power binoculars along with the GPS and took them out now, studying the building's exterior. The binoculars were good–really good–as well they should have been for the price. The level of detail was amazing. Like so many Moroi creations, the building was a mixture of the old and the new. The walls were made of sinister gray stone blocks and almost entirely obscured the actual prison, whose roof just barely peeped above. A couple of figures paced along the top of the walls, living eyes to go with the cameras. The place looked like a fortress, impenetrable and inescapable. It deserved to be on a rocky cliff, with a sinister black sky behind it. The field and sun seemed out of place. I handed the binoculars to Eddie. He made his own assessment and then gestured to the left. â€Å"There.† Squinting, I just barely made out a truck or SUV driving up toward the prison. It went around the back and vanished from sight. â€Å"Our only way in,† I murmured, recalling the blueprint. We knew we had no shot of scaling the walls or even getting close enough on foot without being spotted. We needed to literally walk through the front door, and that's where the plan got a little sketchy. Eddie lowered the binoculars and glanced over at me, brow furrowed. â€Å"I meant what I said before, you know. I trust you. Whatever reason you're doing this, I know it's a good one. But before things start moving, are you sure this is what you want?† I gave a harsh laugh. â€Å"Want? No. But it's what we need to do.† He nodded. â€Å"Good enough.† We watched the prison a while longer, moving around to get different angles while still keeping a wide perimeter. The scenario was about what we'd expected, but having a 3-D visual was still helpful. After about a half hour, we returned to the hotel. Lissa sat cross-legged on one of the beds, still working on the charms. The feelings coming through her were warm and content. Spirit always made her feel good–even if it had side effects later–and she thought she was making progress. â€Å"Adrian called my cell phone twice,† she told me when we entered. â€Å"But you didn't answer?† â€Å"Nope. Poor guy.† I shrugged. â€Å"It's better this way.† We gave her a rundown of what we'd seen, and her happy mood began to plummet. Our visit made what we were going to do later today more and more real, and working with so much spirit had already put her on edge. A few moments later, I sensed her swallowing her fear. She became resolved. She'd told me she would do this and she intended to stand by her word, even though she dreaded each second that brought her closer to Victor Dashkov. Lunch followed, and then a few hours later, it was time to put the plan into motion. It was early evening for humans, which meant the vampiric night would be drawing to an end soon. It was now or never. Lissa nervously distributed the charms she'd made for us, worried they wouldn't work. Eddie dressed up in his newly bestowed black-and-white guardian formalwear while Lissa and I stayed in our street clothes–with a couple alterations. Lissa's hair was a mousy brown, the result of some wash-in temporary hair color. My hair was tightly bound up underneath a curly red wig that reminded me uncomfortably of my mother. We sat in the backseat of the car while Eddie drove us chauffeur style back along the remote road we'd followed earlier. Unlike before, we didn't pull over. We stayed on the road, driving right up to the prison–or, well, to its gatehouse. No one spoke as we drove, but the tension and anxiety within us all grew and grew. Before we could even get near the outer wall, there was a checkpoint manned by a guardian. Eddie brought the car to a stop, and I tried to look calm. He lowered the window, and the guardian on duty walked over and knelt so that they were at eye level. â€Å"What's your business here?† Eddie handed over a piece of paper, his attitude confident and unconcerned, as though this were perfectly normal. â€Å"Dropping off new feeders.† The file had contained all sorts of forms and papers for prison business, including status reports and order forms for supplies–like feeders. We'd made a copy of one of the feeder requisition forms and filled it out. â€Å"I wasn't notified of a delivery,† the guardian said, not suspicious so much as puzzled. He peered at the paperwork. â€Å"This is an old form.† Eddie shrugged. â€Å"It's just what they gave me. I'm kind of new at this.† The man grinned. â€Å"Yeah, you barely look old enough to be out of school.† He glanced toward Lissa and me, and despite my practiced control, I tensed. The guardian frowned as he studied us. Lissa had given me a necklace, and she'd taken a ring, both charmed with a slight compulsion spell to make others think we were human. It would have been much easier to make her victim wear a charm and force them to think they were seeing humans, but that wasn't possible. The magic was harder this way. He squinted, almost like he was looking at us through a haze. If the charms had worked perfectly, he wouldn't have given us a second glance. The charms were a little flawed. They were changing our appearances but not quite as clearly as we'd hoped. That was why we'd gone to the trouble of altering our hair: if the human-illusion failed, we'd still have some identity protection. Lissa readied herself to work direct compulsion, though we'd hoped it wouldn't come to that with every person we met. A few moments later, the guardian turned from us, apparently deciding we were human after all. I exhaled and unclenched my fists. I hadn't even realized I'd been holding them. â€Å"Hang on a minute, and I'll call this in,† he told Eddie. The guardian stepped away and picked up a phone inside his booth. Eddie glanced back at us. â€Å"So far so good?† â€Å"Aside from the old form,† I grumbled. â€Å"No way to know if my charm's working?† asked Eddie. Lissa had given him one of Tasha's rings, charmed to make him appear tan-skinned and black-haired. Since she wasn't altering his race, the magic only needed to blur his features. Like our human charms, I suspected it wasn't projecting the exact image she'd hoped for, but it should have altered his appearance enough that no one would identify Eddie later. With our resistance to compulsion–and knowing there was a charm in place, which negated its effects on us–Lissa and I couldn't say for certain what he looked like to others. â€Å"I'm sure it's fine,† said Lissa reassuringly. The guardian returned. â€Å"They say go on in, and they'll sort it out there.† â€Å"Thanks,† said Eddie, taking the form back. The guard's attitude implied that he assumed this was a clerical error. He was still diligent, but the idea of someone sneaking feeders into a prison was hardly the kind of thing one would expect–or view as a security risk. Poor guy. Two guardians greeted us when we arrived at the door in the prison's wall. The three of us got out and were led into the grounds between the wall and the prison itself. Whereas St. Vladimir's and the Court's grounds had been lush and filled with plants and trees, the land here was stark and lonely. Not even grass, just hard-packed earth. Was this what served as the prisoners' â€Å"exercise area†? Were they even allowed outside at all? I was surprised there wasn't a moat of some sort out here. The inside of the building was as grim as its exterior. The holding cells at Court were sterile and cold, all metal and blank walls. I'd expected something similar. But whoever had designed Tarasov had foregone the modern look and instead emulated the kind of prison one might have found back in Romania in medieval days. The harsh stone walls continued down the hall, gray and foreboding, and the air was chill and damp. It had to make for unpleasant working conditions for the guardians assigned here. Presumably they wanted to ensure the intimidating facade extended everywhere, even for prisoners first entering the gates. According to our blueprint, there was a little section of dorms where employees lived. Hopefully those were nicer. Dark Ages decor or not, we passed the occasional camera as we walked down the hallway. This place's security was in no way primitive. Occasionally we heard the heavy slamming of a door, but overall, there was a perfect, eerie silence that was almost creepier than shouts and screams. We were taken to the warden's office, a room that still had the same gloomy architecture yet was filled with the usual administrative accessories: desk, computer, etc. It looked efficient, nothing more. Our escorts explained that we were going to see the assistant warden, since the senior one was still in bed. It figured. The subordinate would have gotten stuck with the night shift. I hoped that meant he was tired and unobservant. Probably not. That rarely happened to guardians, no matter their assignments. â€Å"Theo Marx,† said the assistant warden, shaking Eddie's hand. He was a dhampir not much older than us, and I wondered if he'd only been freshly assigned here. â€Å"Larry Brown,† replied Eddie. We'd come up with a boring name for him, one that wouldn't stand out, and had used it in the paperwork. Theo didn't speak to Lissa and me, but he did give us that same puzzled glance the first guy had as the charm's glamour attempted its illusion. Another delay followed, but once more, we slipped through. Theo returned his attention to Eddie and took the requisition form. â€Å"This is different from the usual one,† he said. â€Å"I have no clue,† said Eddie apologetically. â€Å"This is my first time.† Theo sighed and glanced at the clock. â€Å"The warden'll be on duty in another couple hours. I think we're just going to have to wait until he's here to figure out what's going on. Sommerfield's usually got their act together.† There were a few Moroi facilities in the country that gathered feeders–those on the fringes of human society who were content to spend their lives high on vampire endorphins–and then distributed them. Sommerfield was the name of one such facility, located in Kansas City. â€Å"I'm not the only new person they just received,† Eddie said. â€Å"Maybe someone got confused.† â€Å"Typical,† snorted Theo. â€Å"Well, you might as well have a seat and wait. I can get coffee if you want.† â€Å"When are we getting a feeding?† I suddenly asked, using the whiniest, dreamiest voice I could. â€Å"It's been so long.† Lissa followed my lead. â€Å"They said we could when we got here.† Eddie rolled his eyes at what was typical feeder behavior. â€Å"They've been like this the whole time.† â€Å"I can imagine,† said Theo. â€Å"Humph. Feeders.† The door to his office was partially ajar and he called out of it. â€Å"Hey, Wes? Can you come here?† One of the escort guardians stuck his head inside. â€Å"Yeah?† Theo gave us a dismissive wave. â€Å"Take these two down to the feeding area so they don't drive us crazy. If someone's up, they can use them.† Wes nodded and beckoned us out. Eddie and I made the briefest of eye contact. His face betrayed nothing, but I knew he was nervous. Getting Victor out was our job now, and Eddie didn't like sending us to the dragon's lair. Wes led us through more doors and security checkpoints as we went deeper into the prison. I realized that for every layer of security I crossed to get in, I was going to have to cross it again to escape. According to the blueprint, the feeding area was situated on the opposite side of the prison. I'd assumed we'd take some route along the periphery, but instead we cut right through the building's center–where the prisoners were kept. Studying had given me a sense of the layout, but Lissa didn't realize where we were headed until a sign alerted us: WARNING–NOW ENTERING PRISONER AREA (CRIMINAL). I thought that was an odd wording. Wasn't everyone in here a criminal? Heavy double doors blocked this section off, and Wes used both an electronic code and a physical key to cross through. Lissa's pace didn't change, but I felt her anxiety increase as we entered a long corridor lined with bar-covered cells. I didn't feel any better about it myself, but Wes–while still alert–didn't display any sign of fear. He entered this area all the time, I realized. He knew its security. The prisoners might be dangerous, but passing by them was a routine activity for him. Still, peeking inside the cells nearly made my heart stop. The little compartments were as dark and gloomy as anything, containing only bare-bones furnishings. Most of the prisoners were asleep, thankfully. A few, however, watched as we walked by. None of them said anything, but the silence was almost scarier. Some of the Moroi held there looked like ordinary people you'd pass on the street, and I wondered what they could have possibly done to end up here. Their faces were sad, devoid of all hope. I did a double take and realized that some of the prisoners weren't Moroi; they were dhampirs. It made sense but still caught me off guard. My own kind would have criminals that needed to be dealt with, too. But not all of the prisoners appeared benign. Others looked like they definitely belonged in Tarasov. There was a malevolence about them, a sinister feel as their eyes locked onto us and didn't let go. They scrutinized our every detail, though for what reason, I couldn't say. Were they seeking out anything that might offer escape? Could they see through our facades? Were they simply hungry? I didn't know but felt grateful for the silent guardians posted throughout the hall. I was also grateful that I didn't see Victor and assumed he lived in a different hall. We couldn't risk being recognized yet. We finally exited the prisoners' corridor through another set of double doors and at last reached the feeding area. It too felt like a medieval dungeon, but images had to be kept up for the sake of the prisoners. Decor aside, the feeding room's layout was similar to what St. Vladimir's had, except it was smaller. A few cubicles offered moderate privacy, and a bored-looking Moroi guy was reading a book at a desk but looked ready to fall asleep. There was only one feeder in the room, a scraggly-looking, middle-aged human who sat in a chair with a dopey smile on his face, staring at nothing. The Moroi flinched when we entered, his eyes going wide. Clearly, we were the most exciting thing to happen to him all night. He didn't have that moment of disorientation when he glanced at us; he apparently had low compulsion resistance, which was good to know. â€Å"What's this?† â€Å"Two new ones just came in,† said Wes. â€Å"But we're not due,† said the Moroi. â€Å"And we never get ones this young. They always give us the old, used-up ones.† â€Å"Don't ask me,† said Wes, moving toward the door once he'd indicated seats for Lissa and me. It was clear he found escorting feeders beneath him. â€Å"Marx wants them here until Sullivan gets up. My guess is it's going to turn out to be a mistake, but they were complaining about needing a fix.† â€Å"Wonderful,† groaned the Moroi. â€Å"Well, our next meal's due in fifteen minutes, so I can give Bradley over there a break. He's so gone, I doubt he'd notice if someone else gave blood instead of him.† Wes nodded. â€Å"We'll call down when we've got this straight.† The guardian left, and the Moroi picked up a clipboard with a sigh. I had the feeling everyone here was kind of tired of their jobs. I could understand why. This had to be a miserable place to work. Give me the wider world anytime. â€Å"Who's due to feed in fifteen minutes?† I asked. The Moroi's head jerked up in astonishment. It wasn't the kind of question a feeder asked. â€Å"What did you say?† Lissa stood up and got him in her gaze. â€Å"Answer her question.† The man's face went slack. He was easy to compel. â€Å"Rudolf Kaiser.† No one either of us recognized. He could have been in here for mass murder or embezzlement for all I knew. â€Å"When's Victor Dashkov due?† asked Lissa. â€Å"Two hours.† â€Å"Alter the schedule. Tell his guards there's been a readjustment and he has to come now instead of Rudolf.† The Moroi's blank eyes–now as dazed looking as Bradley the feeder's, really–seemed to take a moment to process this. â€Å"Yes,† he said. â€Å"This is something that might happen normally. It won't raise suspicion.† â€Å"It won't raise suspicion,† he repeated in a monotone. â€Å"Do it,† she ordered, voice hard. â€Å"Call them, set it up, and do not take your eyes off of me.† The Moroi complied. While speaking on the phone, he identified himself as Northwood. When he disconnected, the arrangements had been made. We had nothing to do but wait now. My entire body was tightly wound with tension. Theo had said we had over an hour until the warden was on duty. No one would ask questions until then. Eddie simply had to kill time with Theo and not raise suspicions behind a paperwork error. Calm down, Rose. You can do this. While we waited, Lissa compelled Bradley the feeder into a heavy sleep. I didn't want any witnesses, even not drugged ones. Likewise, I turned the room's camera ever so slightly, so it no longer could see the bulk of the room. Naturally, we'd have to deal with the prison's entire surveillance system before we left, but for now, we needed no watching security personnel to catch sight of what was about to happen. I had just settled into one of the cubicles when the door opened. Lissa had stayed in her chair near Northwood's desk, so that she could keep her compulsion on him. We'd instructed him that I would be the feeder. I was enclosed, but through Lissa's sight, I saw the group enter: two guardians†¦ and Victor Dashkov. The same distress she'd felt when seeing him at her trial shot up within her. Her heart rate increased. Her hands shook. The only thing that had finally calmed her back at the trial was the resolution of it all, knowing Victor would be locked away forever and unable to hurt her again. And now we were about to change all that. Forcibly, Lissa shoved her fear out of her mind so that she could keep her hold on Northwood. The guardians beside Victor were stern and ready for action, though they didn't really need to be. The sickness that had plagued him for years–the one Lissa had temporarily healed him of–was starting to rear its head again. Lack of exercise and fresh air appeared to have taken a toll too, as had the limited blood prisoners were supposedly given. The guards had him clad in shackles as an extra precaution, and the heavy weight dragged him down, almost making him shuffle. â€Å"Over there,† said Northwood, pointing at me. â€Å"That one.† The guardians led Victor past Lissa, and he barely gave her a second glance. She was working double compulsion: keeping Northwood under her control and using a quick burst to make herself insignificant to Victor when he walked by. The guardians settled him into a chair beside me and then stepped back, still keeping him in sight. One of them struck up conversation with Northwood, noting our newness and youth. If I ever did this again, I'd have Lissa charm us into looking older. Sitting beside me, Victor leaned toward me and opened his mouth. Feedings were so second nature, the motions always the same, that he hardly had to think about what he did. It was like he didn't even see me. Except, then†¦ he did. He froze, his eyes going wide. Certain characteristics marked the royal Moroi families, and light, jade-green eyes ran amongst both the Dashkovs and the Dragomirs. The weary, resigned look in his disappeared, and the cunning sharpness that so characterized him–the shrewd intellect I knew well–snapped into place. It reminded me eerily of some of the prisoners we'd passed earlier. But he was confused. Like the other people we'd encountered, my charm was muddling his thoughts. His senses told him I was a human†¦ yet the illusion wasn't perfect. There was also the fact that Victor, as a strong non-spirit compulsion wielder, was relatively resistant to it. And just as Eddie, Lissa, and I had been immune to one another's charms because we knew our true identities, Victor experienced the same effect. His mind might insist that I was human, but his eyes told him I was Rose Hathaway, even with my wig. And once that knowledge was solidified, the human illusion disappeared for him. A slow, intrigued smile spread over his face, blatantly displaying his fangs. â€Å"Oh my. This might be the best meal I've ever had.† His voice was barely audible, covered by the conversation of the others. â€Å"Put your teeth anywhere near me and it'll be your last meal,† I murmured, voice just as quiet. â€Å"But if you want any chance of getting out of here and seeing the world again, you'll do exactly what I say.† He gave me a questioning look. I took a deep breath, dreading what I had to say next. â€Å"Attack me.†