Ethics in International Environments Essay Example for Free

Ethics in International Environments Essay The different changes that are happening in the society greatly affect the norms and practices of people, especially those that are involved in the business sector. The existence of globalization has paved the way for business organization to expand their marketing operations outside their local countries and try targeting new consumers that are situated in foreign nations. However, in doing so, business organizations have to take into consideration the differences among nations, especially when it comes to values, beliefs, culture, legal system, and many others. In line with this, respecting and properly addressing the differences among countries also entails properly applying the decisions and business strategy of the company in such a way that it upholds business ethics. Business ethics refers to the applied or professional ethics that is used in order to identify the morality or rightness of a decision or action in ethical issues that arise in business organizations (Crane Matten, 2007). In line with this, the case study of the British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) in marketing their Winfield brand in Asia should carefully consider the ethical implications of their market expansion to the welfare of the consumers in that part of the world and also the overall effects of it in the robustness of the company. Brief Summary of the Case Study The British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) is maker of Winfield, an Australian brand of cigarette. Winfield is available in countries such as: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, UK, and Europe. The main competitive advantage of Winfield as compared with other brands is the reputation that it has wherein it boost quality along with the concept of ‘more for less’, without being regarded as a ‘cheap’ brand. The brand has showed strong financial growth starting from its launch in Australia and other international market place. However, the stricter tobacco advertising restrictions has made it difficult for the organization to market and communicate to the consumers in order to sell Winfield. Due to this, the organization decided to enter the Asian market because their tobacco laws are not as strict as compared with the United States and Australia. BATA wants to maximize the potential of the Asian market before it begins banning cigarette advertising and tobacco smoking. In order to expand in the Asian market, BATA has to practice the multi-domestic marketing strategy. The multi-domestic marketing strategy entails that business organizations have to tailor made a marketing standard that adheres to the culture and personal preference of the target foreign market of the company (Kurtz, 2008). In relation to this, business organizations also have the ability to maintain the standard quality of the product by making sure that despite the differences in the marketing strategy, it still adheres to the core value and objective of the brand (Kitchen Schultz, 2001). Ethical Issues BATA has to address different issues when it comes to entering the Asian market. First, the organization has to identify as to what degree standardize policy on cigarette advertising and promotion has to be applied across borders. Second, BATA needs to find ways in order to establish a balance between ensuring ethical marketing activities and still gaining from the freedom of communication in some international market places. BATA has to reconcile whether a global marketing strategy or multi-domestic marketing strategy is the most effective marketing model that will benefit the organization (Kurtz, 2008). The organization has to face the ethical issue that comes with marketing and selling their cigarettes in the Asian market. BATA has to deal with the ethical dilemma that marketing Winfield in Asia might place the lives of people in danger because of ill effects of tobacco smoking. In addition, the organization also has to take into consideration the exposure of the marketing of Winfield to minors. Moreover, the reputation of the company should also be given utmost consideration because their image of giving quality products with a desire to give satisfaction to customers might be threatened by a wrong marketing move. Formulation of Alternative or Possible Solution In order to properly address the ethical issues that exist and others more that might arise, BATA has to analyze their decisions and actions through the Social Contract Theory (SCT). The Social Contract Theory pertains to a wide range of theories that try to explain the idea of how people willingly give a part of their right in order to form the state with the main purpose of ensuring social order. Every individual has their own respective rights, which they freely surrender a portion of to a higher authority usually the government, in order to prevent chaos and preserve order in the society (Crane Matten, 2007). In the context of international business ethics, the Social Contract Theory allows the establishment of a framework that will help address the ethical issues in relation with Winfield. The Social Contract Theory solves ethical issue by means of the following: (1) establish core principles that are related to the organization; (2) provides recommendations for various communities; (3) examine the appropriateness of marketing practices; (4) enables the theoretical foundation of norms and values (Crane Matten, 2007). Based on the Social Contract Theory, the possible solution entails BATA should identify specific and effective core value system for the organization. In order to properly identify the decisions and actions that the organization recognizes as ethical or unethical an outline of the core value system of the organization is necessary. Another important step is for the organization to implement the multi-domestic marketing strategy that will give importance to the specific preferences of different foreign markets. The organization has to tailor-made their marketing strategy to the needs of respective foreign countries. The appropriateness of the marketing practices of the organization should also be assured by means of establishing a separate department in the organization that will oversee that the marketing of Winfield adheres to the culture, preferences, and law of the foreign market it is being catered. Moreover, the norms and values of the company should be uphold by means of making marketing ads and other promotional materials that targets adults rather than minors. In addition, BATA should place warnings about the ill effects of smoking to the health of people in the very packaging of Winfield and also, in their marketing campaigns even if the law of the foreign country does not require such. BATA has to protect the reputation of the organization and one effective way of doing so is by effectively practicing corporate responsibility (Blownfield Murray, 2008). The organization has to be mindful of their duties and responsibilities to their consumers and the society as a whole. Recommendation The Utilitarian approach to ethics is a kind of normative ethics that assesses the morality or rightness of action based on its outcome. In utilitarianism, a decision or action is ethical when it yields the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people (Crane Matten, 2007). Based on utilitarianism, BATA has to give importance to the welfare of their consumers and not only the organization’s profit in order to make their business processes ethical. By means of establishing the core value system of the organization and also by making sure that the promotion of Winfield is focus on adults together with the corresponding health warning, BATA can be able to give the greatest benefit or happiness to almost all stakeholders that are involve. The organization will gain more profit and further develop their company by means of entering the Asian market. In addition, BATA’s greater corporate responsibility will further boost the reputation of the company. In the side of the consumers, they will have more variation when it comes to cigarette choices. The consumers are also properly informed by the company of the health risks of smoking, which will give them informed-consent on deciding whether they will smoke or not. References Blowfield, M. , Murray A. (2008). Corporate Responsibility: A Critical Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press. Crane, A. Matten, D. (2007). Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. New York: Oxford University Press. Kitchen, P. J. , Schultz, D. E. (2001). Raising the Corporate Umbrella: Corporate Communication in the 21st Century. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Kurtz, D. L. (2008). Contemporary Marketing. New York: Cengage Learning.

Introduction To Gay Marriage English Language Essay

Introduction To Gay Marriage English Language Essay The society today tends to stick to what they know and hold on to the familiar. Therefore when something unfamiliar comes along the society resists acceptance, instead they dismiss the issue by denying its existence. Unfortunately, gay marriage is one of the issues that the society has come to refuse to accept and deal with. Maybe, it is because they do not know how to approach it or maybe the issue just took them by surprise and they just need a moment to recover. For whatever reason, the society has chosen to ban gay marriage in Palau. Same sex marriage is new to us all, I completely understand that fact. It was not until recently that we found out that there are certain people that are into liking the same sex. However if we come to think of it, many things regarding marriage, has all, at one point in life, been new to us. In fact when I asked my grandfather, whose name is Kanai Edesomel, what traditional marriage was like back in the old days he said that marriage, traditionally, was mostly arranged. My grandfather went on to say that children back then did not have a say in who they were going to marry. The parents were the ones that chose who their children was going to marry based on a persons character, family background, and how the marriage is going to benefit their own family. Based on what my grandfather told me about marriage in the old days and how marriage is today, I would have to say that Palau has come a long way from arranged marriage. In an article published in the New York Times, William Saletan pointed out how we, members of the society, dont realize how marriage has continuously changed over time, usually in ways so congenial. In the same article William Saletan noted that not only is change part of the tradition but tradition will be part of the change.(Saletan) We, Palauans have slowly broke away from our traditional way in marriage, because whether we realize it or not the world we live in today demands change from us. We are becoming diversely knowledgeable therefore we have to adjust traditions to match the world we live in today and the knowledge we have; and if not adjust traditions we shall make new traditions. In being able to adjust and come up with new traditions we shall become more accepting of same sex marriage. This is all your opinion-not research. We have to stop and consider people in our society who are gay, they are not doing anything wrong; they are just being who they are. Gay cannot help the way they feel. During the 1990s a scientist named Laura S. Allen did an experiment on the human brain. For her experiment, Laura compared the brain of heterosexuals and homosexuals. She came to find that that the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that is connected to the sexual drive and function, for homosexuals are bigger that hypothalamus for heterosexual. (Biological Basis for Homosexuality) Therefore, I can say, based on Allens experiment results, that gay people do not choose to be gay; they are born gay. The society should not deny gay people marriage because they think that gay people choose to be this way. I asked a couple of Palauans who are against gay marriag, why they chose to be against it? Most of them said that they think that being gay is not right and people that are gay are sinner. That is why I say that gay people does not choose to be gay, they are born this way. Another study that was done on homosexuals to determine whether they were born gay or not, that is quite similar to Laura Allens experiment also came up with the similar results as Laura Allens experiment. The experiment I am talking about is by Simon LaVay, who also studies both homosexuals and heterosexual brains and compared them.(Biological Basis of Homosexuality) Although, the overall study on whether people are born gay or choose to be gay is inconclusive, there are been evidence shown that gay people were born the way they are, just like experiments I have told you about. We can never know for sure if gay people were born this way or chose the path that they are on. However, if you think about it, no one in their right minds would choose an identity that is descriminated and hated by the society. Now that I have mentioned descrimination let me just tell you that by denying gay people marriage we are descriminating gay people. We are always enforcing equality in our society, and yet we are not treating gay people equally by not allowing them to marry and receive the benefits that any traditional couple will receive when they marry. In the constitution of the Republic of Palau under Article 4, section five it clearly says, Every person shall be equal under the law and shall be entitled to equal protection. The government shall take no action to discriminate against any person on the basis of sex, race, place of origin, language, religion or belief, social status or clan affiliation except for the preferential treatment of citizens, for the protection of minors, elderly, indigent, physically or mentally handicapped, and other similar groups, and in matters concerning intestate succession and domestic relations. No person shall be treated unfairly in legislative or executive inve stigations.(Constitution of the Republic of Palau.1979) By denying gay people marriage we are descriminating against peoples race and believes, if that does not go against the constitution I do not know what does. I all comes down to morality, what do we think is right to do? While deciding we shall consider the changes in marriage throughout the years. At the same time consider that gay people cannot change who they are, just like we cannot change who we are; in changing who we are we are denying ourselves. Also we have to consider the laws that have been set out for our society. Work Cited: Saletan,William The Peculiar Institution.Sunday Book Review(2004):3.The New York Times.Web.26 September 2004. Biological Basis for Homosexuality..Biobasis(2003):7151.Geocities.Web.8 April 2003. The Constitution of the Republic of Palau.Palau Consolidated Lagilation.(1998):Paclii.Web.2 April 1979. Research Evaluation Thoroughness of Research: 4 Extremely thorough, strong thesis supported by research, paper has purpose and not just facts, variety of sources 3 research good overall but some areas need additional research, thesis and research mostly support each other, purpose to research (not just facts) three types of sources 2 Basic research is good, paper has thesis but weak, more facts than purpose, additional research to support thesis needed throughout, two sources used 1 Research is insufficient throughout, very weak or missing thesis, paper mostly facts, insufficient sources Structure and Organization: 4 Information is extremely well organized and easy to understand, correct person used throughout the paper, appropriate transitions used so paragraphs blend together 3 Organization is generally good but some information is misplaced, some error in person, some use of transitions so paragraphs somewhat blend 2 Organization falls apart in several areas but the basic structure of the paper is good, multiple errors in person, few transitions so paper reads fairly choppy 1 Overall structure of the paper is not well thought out causing paper to be unorganized, many errors in person, insufficient or no transitions results in paragraphs not connecting causing choppy reading Development: 4 Excellent introduction with proper thesis placement, each point is clearly identified and explained, strong conclusion which restates purpose, points and has closure 3 Good introduction with proper thesis placement, most points are clearly identified and explained, good conclusion which summarizes and has closure 2 fair introduction which contains thesis, some points are thoroughly explained, while others need development, fair conclusion 1 Weak introduction, most or all points still need a lot of development, poor conclusion causing paper to end abruptly Originality of Voice: 4 Research material has been thoroughly incorporated into the writers own words 3 Most of the paper reflects the tone of the writer 2 A great part of the research material still reflects the tone and style of the original source 1 The research paper reads as if most of it were simply copied from original texts (PLAGIARISM) Citations: 4 Writer has made citations in all areas where they quoted, paraphrased or summarized and effectively sandwiched in 3 Citations were made and sandwiched in effectively for most quotations, paraphrases and summaries, 2 Some citations were made and some attempt to sandwich in 1 No citations were made at all or citations do not fit into original writing Grammar, Mechanics and Spelling: 4 Writer showed care in proofreading; only occasional errors occur 3 Errors are common 2 Paper has multiple errors in every paragraph; sometimes the errors make the paper hard to understand 1 Paper has many errors, making it very difficult to read and understand Works Cited page: title, alphabetized, correct indentation, resources correctly formatted, sufficient number of resources listed, correctly punctuated (4 to 1 points) Format: Format: font size and style correct, 1 inch margins, right side ragged (no justification), title page correctly formatted, paper double spaced, paragraphs indented, reference page correctly titled and formatted, header with last name and page number on top right. (4 to 1 points) Overall Total: *32-29 (A range) Excellent work; well written *28-21 (B range) good; yet additional polish is needed 32=A *20-13 (C range) Fair; effort still needs to be done to finish the 24=B research paper 16=C *12-05 (D range) Poor; all areas of the research paper still need a 8=D lot of work; 4=F *04- 0 (F range) unacceptable; poor attention to rough draft comments, still lacking sufficient research The paper should be mostly written in third person. Only when you discuss personal issues, would you use the first person pronoun. The use of we throughout the paper needs to be changed. Use third person and use nouns more than pronouns. In addition, you have not punctuated the in-text citation properly. Note where the period goes. Your resource page is not correctly formatted either. You also have to be careful not to write your opinion so much. Back up what you say with research.

Four Powerful Women in Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Essay

One of the most important attributes seldom attributed to women is the innate ability to keep the family as a cohesive whole. Women are the rock in the midst of familial turmoil, the solid foundation on which a husband or head of a household can stand firm. Fully assured that womanhood will stand back of the ranks and take care of domestic needs. Women have qualities that keep the family strong, these unique attributes can divided into several standards. One being the physical aspect of â€Å"mother† nature, two virginity representing the religious type of the standard, three is the young bitch who represent the physical state while four is the old bitch who also has a spiritual side of the woman standard. In the Grapes of Wrath by J. Steinbeck these four standards are possessed by the characters which take on responsibility and eventually help the family succeed in achieving the American dream. The rock of the family, Ma Joad is a woman of hope and strength. Ma represents the â€Å"mother† nature archetype and also has the characteristic of staying strong when depended on by her family and also guiding her family that is attributed to this standard. The sentence structure used to describe Ma by Steinbeck proves the importance of Ma’s character. â€Å". " Ma was heavy, but not fat; thick with child-bearing and work...her ankles, and her strong, broad, bare feet moved quickly and deftly over the floor", by Steinbeck using these features to describe her as a mom he shows that Ma has the ability to thrive and survive in hard situations as well as that she has control of her family (95). Steinbeck’s later goes on to describe in detail her feet being one with the earth, showing her â€Å"mother† nature standard. Mother Nature produces, births, sustain... ... of the trials and hardship endured along the road to get to the Promised Land (California), the Joad’s survive as a family. It may not have been the perfect expedition and migration which was intended but when all hope was lost Ma was there to lead and comfort. The need to push on and reassurance that things would be ok was prevalent after the deaths. When one life ended another was started, and when situations were at their worst, there came a helping hand and were saved. These women are the foundation to the Joad family and help them successfully live their dream to make it to California. Without these four women possessing these archetypes they may have never made it as a family, with such hope and dreams as they did. Work Cited Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. Web. 25 September 2014.

Early Computer Education for Students :: Computer technology student teacher

Introduction With the increasing need for technology proficient students, educational computing needs to start at an early age. Computing should be involved in each level of education from K-12 to higher education. This essay will cover the issues, challenges, and conclusions of computing education methods in different educational levels, internet in education, using â€Å"edutainment† within curriculum, and teaching information literacy. Background Literature Learning can be described as a process of interaction of student-to-professor, student-to-student, student-to-material, and student-to-expert/practitioner. Traditionally, a students learning is limited to class lectures, face-to-face discussions, office visits, quizzes, and tests (Wang, 2007, p280). Wang states that student learning quality can be improved by increasing these basic interactions. According to Wang, the Internet can improve the quality of these interactions when integrated into the classroom setting. The Internet improves the interaction of student-to-professor, student-to-student, student-to-material, and student-to-expert/practitioner (Wang, 2007, p 281). According to Wang, traditional classroom learning has extreme limitations. Most information is dispensed in lecture, especially in a college setting, and assessed with a test. Students have very little time to reflect and to express their thoughts and feelings about what is taking place. They have very little time to communicate to the professor what they are learning or having difficulty learning after each class session. Often students misconceive what they read and what they hear in a lecture setting. These misconceptions are carried through into an examination and are seldom resolved (Wang, 2007, p 281). Mary Green and Mary Nell McNeese believe that video games are an untapped resource in education. They refer to games that could be educational as â€Å"edutainment.† The main purpose of edutainment is to promote student learning through exploration, interactivity, trial and error, and repetition in such a way that students get so lost in the fun, that they don’t realize they are learning at the same time. By playing digital games, students exercise various skills such as strategizing, and problem solving to conquer the enemy, save the princess, or find the hidden treasure (Green, 2007, p 6).

I Must Help Others :: Medicine College Admissions Essays

I Must Help Others    I grew up amidst the poverty and deprivation of the Third World, and for the majority of the twenty years that I lived in Jamaica, I lived with a sense of hopelessness. I lived with my mother, one brother, and two sisters in a one-bedroom house without any roof. The day before my final exams, during my first year in high school, we were evicted from the house. I never got another chance to take my exams, and I had to spend the next school year repeating the same classes.    At the age of thirteen, I dropped out of school for about nine months because we were without any resources. During that time out of school I came to realize the value of education. I realized that I could improve the quality of my life and that of the people around me with an education.    While in high school my decision to become a doctor became real. As a member of the Hospital Club I visited the Kingston Public Hospital and saw that there were people there that had been waiting for days to see a doctor because they could not afford to go elsewhere. I had to do something to help.    As I pause to think of the forces that have motivated and influenced me, I remember the harsh experiences that I have endured, and the obstacles I have overcome. But, I would rather focus on the positive experiences that I have had. In doing so, I recall the many times that I was called upon by the headmistress of my high school to teach a mathematics class when the teacher was out ill, including the class in which I was enrolled. I remember the many times that I was voted in as class monitor and I also recall during my senior year being one of the fifteen prefects for the student body, which consisted of approximately 1500 girls. These experiences gave me a sense of pride, dignity, and the will to carry on.    I graduated from high school in 1985, and during that summer I worked as a clerk at the Police Forensic Laboratory. My interest in Physics and Biology blossomed as I watched the ballistics and other experiments being performed in this Laboratory. These were classes that I had never taken before.

How Has the Position of Vice President Changed

How has the position of the vice president changed? (30 MARKS) The position of the vice president has drastically changed in many areas such as the way in which they are voted in, but it is still unchanged in areas like the powers given to the vice president in the constitution. As the role of the federal government and the presidents responsibilities grew presidents began to see the vice-presidency as a source of help in running the executive branch of government.Beginning with the Eisenhower- Nixon administration 1953-61, vice presidents were given more high profile tasks and became in some cases significant presidential advisors in 1977 vice-president Mondale was shown the presidential daily briefing and was given an office in the west wing, Mondale was the first vice-president to receive this but after Mondale this was the normal thing for the vice-presidents.The improved position of the vice-presidency has attracted more significant people to seek the office, over the past 50 ye ars the list of vice-presidents has been a distinguished one, including names such as Lyndon Johnson and Al Gore, of the eleven vice-presidents who held office between 1953 and 2008 four went on to become president, while a further three were selected to run. The election of vice-president Dick Chaney was seen as a bit of a joke not because he was not qualified enough but because he was more qualified than the president George W. Bush, it was said ‘if Dick Chaney were assassinated, Bush would have to become president'.Dick Chaney did not take the roles of a normal vice-president he had lots more power Bush gave Cheney access to ‘every table and every meeting' making his voice heard in whatever area the vice-president feels he wants to be active in. The first two decades of the nations history, the vice-president was the person who came second in the balloting of the electoral college, until the 1804 the 12th amendment changed the vice presidential system, from then on it was elected on a joint ticket with the president so the choice for the potential president Is the choice of the people.Modern day vice-presidents have take on new roles, many have played a role in legislation in congress, this is the role that Dick Chaney who was former member of the house of representatives took for George W. Bush and this is the role that Joe Biden a senator for 36 years plays for president Obama. The vice-president often becomes the party worker, electioneer and fund raiser, Cheney played this role in the run up to the 2002 mid term elections, according to the times Cheney was â€Å"drawing packed crowds and raking in millions of dollars for Republican candidates†.The vice-president may become a major spokesman for the administration, Gore became a regular face at the podium on environmental issues as well as over government efficiency drives. However vice-presidents have always had four powers in the constitution which are still in place today, the vice- president is the presiding officer of the senate, even though this function is rarely performed by the vice-president is usually assigned to junior members of senates chambers, the vice president can also break a tied vote in the senate, which can be very helpful for the president as when there was a tie breaking vote in 2001 on President Bushes $1. trillion tax cut Dick Chaney voted in favour of President Bush, between 1981 and January 2009 vice presidents were called upon to break tied votes on 19 occasions eight of these by Dick Chaney. The vice-president is given the task of counting and then announcing the electoral college results, so in 2001 vice president Al Gore had to announce his defeat in the previous November election.The previous three powers are either of little importance or occur rarely or both, it is the final power that gives the office of vice-president its potential importance. The vice-president becomes president upon death, resignation or removal of the presid ent from office, this has occurred on nine occasions, four times following the assassination of the president, four times following the natural death of the president, and once following the resignation of the president, president Nixon resigned in 1974 after the Watergate scandal.The insignificant powers of the office, coupled with this potential importance led the first vice-president, John Adams to remark of the post ‘in this I am nothing but I may be everything'. More recently the vice president has acquired a fifth power ‘to become acting president if the president is declared, or declares himself disabled, this has been used three times but only for a short time, Dick Chaney was acting president twice but for just over two hours.So there has been some drastic changes in the position of the vice-president, they have taken on a lot more responsibility than they have previously had, gradually getting more and more power, but it depends on the vice president such as Di ck Chaney he was a very powerful vice-president which could be due to his expertise and the lack of experience of Bush in comparison, but some parts of the vice-presidency are still the same as they are still written in the constitution.

Night World : Witchlight Chapter 8

Keller was tempted to check the wards, but she knew it wouldn't do any good. She wasn't sensitive enough to the witch energies to gauge them. They'd been put up by Grandma Harman and checked by Winnie, and she would have to trust to that. The wards were keyed so that only the Dominick family and ordinary humans could come inside. No Night Person could enter except Nissa, Winnie, Keller, and Galen. Which meant, Keller thought with a grim smile, that any lost witch relatives of Iliana's mother who came by were going to get quite a surprise. An invisible wall was going to be blocking them from crossing the threshold. As long as nobody on the inside removed the wards, the house was safer than Fort Knox. Grandma Harman had also taken the limo, Keller found. Sometime during the night, it had been replaced by an inconspicuous Ford sedan parked at the curb. The keys had been in a manila envelope dropped through the mail slot in the front door, along with a map of Lucy Lee Bethea High School. Circle Daybreak was efficient. â€Å"I didn't finish my hair,† Iliana complained as Nissa hustled her to the car. â€Å"It's only half done.† â€Å"It looks terrific,† Winnie said from behind her. And the thing was, it was true. There was nothing that could make that shimmering waterfall of silvery-gold look anything less than beautiful. Whether it was up or down, braided or pinned or falling loose, it was glorious. I don't even think the little nitwit has to brush it, Keller thought. It's so fine that she couldn't make two hairs tangle if she tried. â€Å"And I left my scarf† â€Å"Here it is.† Keller lassoed her. The scarf was ridiculous, crushed velvet in muted metallic colors, with a six-inch fringe. Purely decorative. Iliana choked as Keller wound it around a few times and pulled it tight â€Å"A little aggressive, Boss?† Winfrith asked, extricating Iliana before she could turn blue. â€Å"Worried about being late,† Keller said shortly. But she saw Nissa eyeing her, too. Galen was the last to come out of the house. He was pale and serious-that much Keller saw before she shifted her eyes past him. Iliana's mother actually remained standing at the door with the baby in her arms. â€Å"Say bye-bye to your sister's friends. Bye-bye.† â€Å"Kee-kee,† the baby said. â€Å"Kee-kee!† â€Å"Wave to him,† Winfrith stage-whispered. Keller gritted her teeth. She half-waved, keeping her senses opened for any sound of an impending attack. The baby held out his arms toward her. â€Å"Pui!† â€Å"Let's get out of here.† Keller almost shoved Iliana into the backseat. Nissa took the wheel, and Galen sat up front with her. Winnie ran around to get in the back on the other side of Iliana. As they pulled out, Keller saw the outside of the house for the first time. It was a nice house-white clapboard, two and a half stories, Colonial Revival. The street was nice, too, lined with dogwoods that would be a mass of white when they bloomed. The sort of street where people sat outside on their rockers in spring and somebody was bound to have a stand of bees in the side yard making sourwood honey. Although Keller had been all over the United States, sent from one Circle Daybreak group to another, the hospital where she'd been found had been near a neighborhood like this. I might have grown up someplace like this. If they'd kept me. My parents†¦ Do I hate her? Keller wondered suddenly. I couldn't. It's not her fault. Oh, no, of course not, the voice in her mind said. Not her fault that she's beautiful and perfect and has parents who love her and blue fire in her veins and that she is going to be forced, whether she wants it or not, to marry Galen†¦ Which I don't care about, Keller thought. She was shocked at herself. When had she ever let emotion interfere with her job? She was allowing herself to be distracted-she had allowed herself to be distracted all morning-when there was something vitally important at stake. No more, she told herself fiercely. From now on, I think about nothing but the mission. Years of mental discipline came in handy now; she was able to push everything to the side and focus with icy clarity on what had to be done. â€Å"-stopped a train in its tracks,† Winfrith was saying. â€Å"Really?† There was faint interest in Kiana's voice. At least she'd stopped talking about her hair, Keller thought. â€Å"Really. It was one of those BART trains in San Francisco, Like a subway train, you know. The two girls were on the tracks, and the Wild Power stopped the train dead before it could hit them. That's what the blue fire can do.† â€Å"Well, I know I can't do anything like that,† Iliana said flatly. â€Å"So I can't be a Wild Power. Or whatever.† The last words were tacked on quickly. Nissa raised a cool eyebrow. â€Å"Have you ever tried to stop a train?† While Iliana bit a fingertip and pondered that, Winnie said, â€Å"You have to do it right, you know. First, you have to make blood flow, and then you have to concentrate. It's not something you can expect to do perfectly the very first time.† â€Å"If you want to start practicing,† Nissa added, â€Å"we can help.† Diana shuddered. â€Å"No, thank you. I faint when I see blood. And anyway, I'm not it.† â€Å"Too bad,† Nissa murmured. â€Å"We could use the blue fire on our side today.† They were pulling up to a charming old brown brick high school. Neither Galen nor Keller had said a word throughout the ride. But now Keller leaned forward. â€Å"Nissa, drive past it. I want to check the layout first.† Nissa swung the car into a circular driveway that went past the school's oversized front doors. Keller looked right and left, taking in everything about the surroundings. She could see Winnie doing the same thing-and Galen, too. He was focusing on the same danger spots she was. He had the instinct for strategy. â€Å"Go around the block and circle back,† Keller said. Iliana stirred. â€Å"I thought you were worried about me being late.† â€Å"I'm more worried about you being dead,† Keller interrupted. â€Å"What do you think, Nissa?† â€Å"The side door on the west. Easy to pull up reasonably close, no bushes around it for nasty surprises to hide in.† â€Å"That's my pick, too. Okay, everybody, listen. Nissa's going to slow the car down in the right place. Slow down, not stop. When I give the signal, we're all going to jump out and go directly to that door. We are not going to pause. We are going to move as a group. Iliana, are you paying attention? From now on, you don't go anywhere unless Winnie's in front of you and I'm beside you.† â€Å"And where's Galen?† Iliana said. Keller cursed herself mentally. She wasn't used to working with a fourth team member. â€Å"Hell be behind us-okay, Galen?† She made herself look his way. â€Å"Yes. Whatever you say.† There wasn't the slightest hint of sarcasm in his face. He was dead serious. Absolutely miserable, earnest, and dead serious. â€Å"And Nissa, once you've parked, you join us and take the other side. What room's your first class in, Iliana?† â€Å"Three twenty-six,† Iliana said dismally. â€Å"U.S. History with Mr. Wanamaker. He went to New York to try to be an actor, but all he got was some disease from not eating enough stuff with vitamins. So he came back, and now he's really strict unless you can get him to do his impressions of the presidents-â€Å" â€Å"All right,† Keller broke in. â€Å"We're coming to the door.† â€Å"-and he's actually pretty funny when he does Theodore Roosevelt-or do I mean the other one-â€Å" â€Å"Now,† Keller said, and pushed her as Winnie pulled. They all made it out smoothly, although Iliana yelped a little. Keller kept a good grip on her arm as they hurried to the door. â€Å"I don't think I like this way of coming to school.† â€Å"We can turn right around and go back home,† Keller said. Iliana shut up. Galen kept pace behind them, silent and focused. It was Nissa's usual position when the team wasn't heading for a car, and Keller couldn't help feeling the difference. She didn't like having someone behind her she couldn't trust absolutely. And although the enemies didn't seem to know yet that Galen was important, if they found out, he'd become a target; Face it, she thought. This setup is a disaster, security-wise. This is a horrendous accident waiting to happen. Her nerves were wound so tightly that she jumped at the slightest sound. They shepherded Iliana to her locker, then up a staircase to the third floor. The halls were almost empty, which was exactly as Keller had planned it. But of course that meant they were late for class. Nissa slid in beside them just as they opened the door. They entered as a group, and the teacher stopped talking and looked at them. So did everybody else in the room. Quite a few jaws dropped open. Keller allowed herself a grim inner smile. Yeah, they were probably a bit of a shock for a small town. Four Night People-well, former Night People, anyway. A witch who was almost as small as Iliana, with a mop of vivid strawberry-blond curls and a face like a pixie on holiday. A vampire girl who looked like cool perfection straight out of a magazine, with cropped mink-colored hair and a strangely penetrating gaze. A shapeshifter boy who could have taken the place of any prince in a book of fairy tales, with hair like old gold and classically sculptured features. And, of course, a panther. Which happened to be walking on two feet at the moment, in the guise of a tall girl with a tense, wary expression and black hair that swirled witchlike around her. And, of course, there was Iliana in the midst of them, looking like a ballet dancer who had blundered in from the Nutcracker Suite. There was a silence as the two groups stared at each other. Then the teacher snapped shut his book and advanced on them. Keller held herself ready. He had a neatly trimmed beard and a dangerous expression. It was Iliana who took him on, though. She stepped forward before Keller could draw a breath to speak. â€Å"Mr. Wanamaker! These are my cousins! Well- some of them are my cousins. They're from†¦California. Hollywood! They're here to†¦ do research for . . â€Å".† â€Å"We're really just visiting,† Keller cut in. â€Å"A new show about a high school. Not like that other show. It's more of a reality-based-â€Å" ‘It's just a visit,† Keller said. â€Å"But your dad is a famous producer,† Iliana said. She added in an undertone to Mr. Wanamaker, â€Å"You know, like that other producer.† All eyes, including the teacher's, fixed on Keller. â€Å"Yes-that's right,† Keller said, and smiled while clenching her teeth. â€Å"But we're still just visiting.† She nudged Winnie with her elbow, but it wasn't necessary. Winnie was already staring at the teacher, brainwashing him with witch power. Mr. Wanamaker bunked. He weighed the book he was holding as if he were Hamlet holding Yorick's skull. He looked at it, then he looked at Winnie and blinked again. Then he shrugged and looked at the ceiling. â€Å"Okay. Whatever. Sit down. There are some chairs at the back. And I'm still marking you tardy.† But Keller noticed that as he returned to his desk, his posture was very erect. She did the best she could to glare at Iliana without drawing any further attention to them. â€Å"A famous producer?† she whispered through her teeth. â€Å"I don't know. It was more interesting than just saying you're friends.† You don't need life to get any more interesting, Bubblebrain, Keller thought, but she didn't say anything. She found one thing out that surprised her, though, and she found it out quickly. Her job was made harder by the fact that everyone at the school was in love with Iliana. It was strange. Keller was used to getting attention from guys-and ignoring it. And Nissa and Winnie both were the type that had to beat them off with sticks. But here, although the guys looked at her and Nissa and Winnie, their eyes always seemed to return to Iliana. At break, they crowded around her like bees around a flower. And not just guys, either. Girls, too. Everyone seemed to have something to say to her or just wanted to see her smile. It was a bodyguard's nightmare. What do they see in her? Keller thought, frustrated almost beyond endurance as she tried to edge Iliana away from the crowd. I mean, aside from the obvious. But if all this is about her looks†¦ It wasn't. It didn't seem to be. They weren't all hitting on her for dates. â€Å"Hey, Iliana, my granddaddy loved that get well card you made.† â€Å"Illie, are you going to tie the ribbons this year for the Christmas benefit bears? Nobody else can make those teeny-weeny bows.† â€Å"Oh, Iliana, something awful! Bugsy had five puppies, and Mom says we can't keep them. We've got to find them all homes.† â€Å"Iliana, I need help-† â€Å"Wait, Iliana, I have to ask you-† Okay, but why come to her? Keller thought as she finally managed to detach the girl from her fan club and steer her into the hall. I mean, she can hardly be the best problem solver in this school, can she? There was one guy who seemed to like Iliana for the obvious. Keller disliked him on sight. He was good-looking in a carefully manicured way, with deep chestnut hair, deep blue eyes, and very white teeth. He was wearing expensive clothes, and he smiled a lot, but only at Iliana. â€Å"Brett,† Iliana said as he accosted them in the hall. Brett Ashton-Hughes. One of the rich twins who were having the birthday party on Saturday night Keller disliked him even more, especially when he gave her a coolly appreciative once-over before returning his attention to Iliana. â€Å"Hey, blondie. You still coming Saturday?† Iliana giggled. Keller stifled the urge to hit something. â€Å"Of course, I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it.† â€Å"Because, you know, it would kill Jaime if you didn't come. We're only inviting a few people, and well have the whole west wing to ourselves. We can even dance in the ballroom.† Diana's eyes went dreamy. â€Å"That sounds so romantic. I always wanted to dance in a real old-fashioned ballroom. I'll feel just like Scarlett O'Hara.† No, Keller thought. No, no, no. No way is she going there. She's going to the Solstice Ceremony, where the shapeshifters and the witches are meeting, even if I have to drag her by the hair. She caught Nissa's eye and saw that Nissa was thinking the same. Galen and Winnie were simply watching Brett with troubled looks on their faces. â€Å"Yeah, and I can be Brett Butler,† Brett was saying. â€Å"Plus, the indoor swimming pool will be heated. So if you get tired of being Scarlett, you can be a mermaid for a while.† â€Å"It sounds wonderful! Tell Jaime I said so.† Winnie bit her lip. Keller got a fresh grip on Diana's arm and started guiding her away. â€Å"So it's a promise, right?† Brett called after her. Keller squeezed. â€Å"Yes, but-oh.† Iliana managed to smile and wince at the same time, her arm limp in Keller's grasp. â€Å"Oh, Brett, there's one thing. I've got my cousin and her friends staying with me.† Brett hesitated an instant, giving each girl on Keller's team the appraising look. Then he shrugged and flashed a smile. â€Å"Hey, no problem. Bring them all. Your friends are our friends.† â€Å"That wasn't what I was trying to tell you,† Keller said when they were away from Brett. Iliana was rubbing her arm with an aggrieved expression. â€Å"Then what? I thought it would be fun for you to go.† â€Å"What do you mean, ‘then what'? You're going to the Solstice Ceremony that night, so you shouldn't have promised him.† â€Å"I am not going to the Solstice Ceremony that night, because I'm not the one you're looking for.† It wasn't the time to argue. Keller kept her moving down the hall. Keller wasn't happy. Her nerves were all prickling, and she felt like a cat with its fur standing on end. Very soon, Iliana wasn't happy, either. ‘I always eat lunch in the cafeteria!† â€Å"Not today,† Keller said, knowing she sounded as brusque and tired as she felt. â€Å"We can't risk it You've got to be in a room, alone, someplace where we can control access to you.† â€Å"The music room,† Winnie said helpfully.  "I saw it on the map and asked a girl about it in English class. It's open during lunch, and there's only one door.† â€Å"I don't want to-â€Å" â€Å"You don't have a choice!† Iliana sulked in the music room. The problem was that she wasn't very good at sulking, and you could only tell she was doing it because when she offered her cookies to Nissa, she only insisted once. Keller paced nervously in the hallway in front of the door. She could hear Winnie and Galen inside talking. Even Galen's voice sounded white-faced and strained. Something's wrong†¦ I've had a bad feeling ever since we got to this school†¦ and it isn't any easier having him around. Part of her was worried that he might take this opportunity to come and try to talk to her. And part of her, a very deep inside part, was furious because he wasn't doing it. Goddess! I've got to get my mind clear. Every second that I'm not in control of my emotions means an opportunity for them. She was so absorbed in yelling at herself that she almost missed the girl walking past her. Keller was almost at the end of the hall, and she had to do a double-take to realize that somebody had just calmly slipped by. â€Å"Hey, wait,† she said to the girl's back. The girl was medium-sized and had hair the soft brown of oak leaves, slightly longer than shoulder-length. She was walking fast She didn't stop. â€Å"Wait! I'm talking to you, girl! That door is off limits.† The girl didn't turn, didn't even pause. She was almost at the door to the music room. â€Å"Stop right there! Or you're going to get hurt!† Not even a hesitation in the girl's step. She turned into the door. A thousand red alerts went off in Keller's head.