Arab - Isreal Conflict Essays - ArabIsraeli Conflict, Western Asia

Arab - Isreal Conflict Check out essays at EssayFinder.com Arab-Israeli Conflicts Since the United Nations partition of PALESTINE in 1947 and the establishment of the modern state of ISRAEL in 1948, there have been four major Arab-Israeli wars (1947-49, 1956, 1967, and 1973) and numerous intermittent battles. Although Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979, hostility between Israel and the rest of its Arab neighbors, complicated by the demands of Palestinian Arabs, continued into the 1980s. THE FIRST PALESTINE WAR (1947-49) The first war began as a civil conflict between Palestinian Jews and Arabs following the United Nations recommendation of Nov. 29, 1947, to partition Palestine, then still under British mandate, into an Arab state and a Jewish state. Fighting quickly spread as Arab guerrillas attacked Jewish settlements and communication links to prevent implementation of the UN plan. Jewish forces prevented seizure of most settlements, but Arab guerrillas, supported by the Transjordanian Arab Legion under the command of British officers, besieged Jerusalem. By April, Haganah, the principal Jewish military group, seized the offensive, scoring victories against the Arab Liberation Army in northern Palestine, Jaffa, and Jerusalem. British military forces withdrew to Haifa; although officially neutral, some commanders assisted one side or the other. After the British had departed and the state of Israel had been established on May 15, 1948, under the premiership of David BEN-GURION, the Palestine Arab forces and foreign volunteers were joined by regular armies of Transjordan (now the kingdom of JORDAN), IRAQ, LEBANON, and SYRIA, with token support from SAUDI ARABIA. Efforts by the UN to halt the fighting were unsuccessful until June 11, when a 4-week truce was declared. When the Arab states refused to renew the truce, ten more days of fighting erupted. In that time Israel greatly extended the area under its control and broke the siege of Jerusalem. Fighting on a smaller scale continued during the second UN truce beginning in mid-July, and Israel acquired more territory, especially in Galilee and the Negev. By January 1949, when the last battles ended, Israel had extended its frontiers by about 5,000 sq km (1,930 sq mi) beyond the 15,500 sq km (4,983 sq mi) allocated to the Jewish state in the UN partition resolution. It had also secured its independence. During 1949, armistice agreements were signed under UN auspices between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. The armistice frontiers were unofficial boundaries until 1967. SUEZ-SINAI WAR (1956) Border conflicts between Israel and the Arabs continued despite provisions in the 1949 armistice agreements for peace negotiations. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs who had left Israeli-held territory during the first war concentrated in refugee camps along Israel's frontiers and became a major source of friction when they infiltrated back to their homes or attacked Israeli border settlements. A major tension point was the Egyptian-controlled GAZA STRIP, which was used by Arab guerrillas for raids into southern Israel. Egypt's blockade of Israeli shipping in the Suez Canal and Gulf of Aqaba intensified the hostilities. These escalating tensions converged with the SUEZ CRISIS caused by the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egyptian president Gamal NASSER. Great Britain and France strenuously objected to Nasser's policies, and a joint military campaign was planned against Egypt with the understanding that Israel would take the initiative by seizing the Sinai Peninsula. The war began on Oct. 29, 1956, after an announcement that the armies of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan were to be integrated under the Egyptian commander in chief. Israel's Operation Kadesh, commanded by Moshe DAYAN, lasted less than a week; its forces reached the eastern bank of the Suez Canal in about 100 hours, seizing the Gaza Strip and nearly all the Sinai Peninsula. The Sinai operations were supplemented by an Anglo-French invasion of Egypt on November 5, giving the allies control of the northern sector of the Suez Canal. The war was halted by a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of all occupying forces from Egyptian territory. The General Assembly also established a United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) to replace the allied troops on the Egyptian side of the borders in Suez, Sinai, and Gaza. By December 22 the last British and French troops had left Egypt. Israel, however, delayed withdrawal, insisting that it receive security guarantees against further Egyptian attack. After several additional UN resolutions calling for withdrawal and after pressure from the United States, Israel's forces left in March 1957. SIX-DAY WAR (1967) Relations between Israel and Egypt remained fairly stable in the following decade. The Suez Canal remained closed to Israeli shipping, the Arab boycott of Israel was maintained, and periodic border clashes occurred between Israel, Syria, and Jordan. However, UNEF prevented direct military encounters between Egypt

United States War on Terror Policy Paper

United States War on Terror Policy Paper Executive Summary Combating terrorism is an operation that demands strategic attention and direct accountability in order to enhance national and global security. It is notable that terrorism has become a global issue that has been perceived as a threat to international security and relations. In this case, the United States as a world super power has risen to wage war on terror groups in order to enhance both national and global security.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on United States War on Terror Policy Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Currently, the US administration has adopted a policy of military installations all over the world in order to foster its national security as well as safeguard is territorial integrity. Nevertheless, this policy has proved to very costly and to some extent; measures taken have increased the vulnerability of acts of terror than ever before. In order to bring about positive c hange in the management of international peace and security, it is recommended that better polices should be applied by its Administrators to fight terrorism. These policies include use of military forces, detaining as well as prosecution of terror suspects. Needless to say, the three polices have vivid pros and cons as they will be addressed in this policy report. However, it is crucial to mention that each of the policies identified is successful in its own way. In line with this, one of the merits that is common in the policies that have been adopted so far is the centralized legal authority that has endeavored to make the new rules and regulations more effective. Nevertheless, it is imperative to note that war on terror needs a multidisciplinary approach in order to be successful. In this case, the policies must be applied concomitantly, a factor that will largely assist in covering up the impending weaknesses. Besides this, all the above three polices of arresting and prosecuti ng terror suspects have been highly recommended. This is due to the fact that the policies have been proven to be very effective in destabilizing, disrupting and demoralizing terror groups that are both emerging and also existed for long. Introduction It is imperative to note that the topic on war against terror is important since it enhances global understanding, appreciation as well as insurgency against such acts (Romaniuk 2012, p. 151). For instance, the United States of America is one of the global powers that has a been major commentator of strategies and policies meant to suppress terrorism and all acts or intentions related to the vice. It is apparent that the US is the only world super power whose foreign policy needs to be changed in order to make its military power less vulnerable to terrorism. As a matter of fact, the US administration has adopted myriads of strategic policies and responsibilities in order to enhance national and global security.Advertising Looki ng for proposal on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Research has revealed that terror acts have posed threat not just to the US security but also at the global level. Needless to say, Murray (2011, p. 84) asserts that the previous administration under President George Bush was largely counterproductive in fighting terror acts both nationally and globally. Some political analysts argue that the use of open force ideology the Republican government under President George Bush was not fruitful at all in yielding the much expected results in the fight against acts of terror. Nevertheless, it is worth to note that terrorism is very dynamic and there is need to take a leap of imagination in order to come up with policies that will help to end terrorism (Murray 2011, p. 84). It is against this backdrop that this policy paper intends to address current and viable polices that can be employed by the US government in the war on terror. Background of the current situation (current policy) From a careful review of literature, it is imperative to note that the contemporary policies used to fight terror have been perceived as counterproductive (Swain 2012, p 237). In this case, instead of suppressing terror acts, these policies tend to aggregate the situation at hand. Therefore, it is essential to note that there are three essential polices that can be used by the US government in the war against terrorism. In a nutshell, disaggregation approach is a crucial framework that can be used as a legal strategy in US to fight terrorism. In any case, this is one of the grand strategies that the US authority has employed for some decades now to break ties between local and global players who are associated with terrorism. Orr (2012, p.93) reiterates that this strategy is meant to separate terror groups and make them turn against each other; a factor that makes it easy to monitor as well as curb their operat ions. From this strategy, one can derive three important policies that can be used by the US administrators in the war against terror. To begin with, one of the most effective polices entails the approach whereby the US government can seek methods of detaining terror suspects once they have pleaded guilty (Homolar 2011, p. 705). Moreover, another policy that has been perceived to be effective is the prosecution of terror criminals in state departments. Additionally, the policy on the use of military force is effective in suppressing various terror groups that are spread across the globe. In order to understand the rationale and effectiveness of these polices in curbing terrorism, it is important to discuss each one of them in details.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on United States War on Terror Policy Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Option 1: current policy of War on Terror Detaining terror suspects in the countries where they are captured is an effective policy since it will help in dispersing and curtailing any form of cooperation by various terror groups. Notably, geographical distance makes it quite cumbersome for terror gangs to spearhead local insurgency (Romaniuk 2012, p. 152). Needless to say, there should be strict domestic and global rules that can be followed to ensure that this policy does not result into political unrest at some point. For instance, certain countries may counteract on realizing that their citizens who have been held as suspects have been detained in foreign countries. In this case, this will ensure that the attitude of the public and perception is not affected by the policy. Nevertheless, this policy has some shortcomings since it becomes quite difficult to detain suspects in countries that are unstable such as Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen (Morris Crank 2011, p. 219). Therefore, this prompts for centralized locations that have the potential to withhold such suspects from connecting with other terror groups. It is worth to note that the policy of detaining terrorists in countries where they have been arrested can provide an ample ground to aggravate vicious terror acts and thereby causing more harm than good (Tosini 2012, p. 115). In this case, the US government should device legal frameworks and strategies that can be used to determine centralized locations where suspected terrorists can be detained as they await being prosecuted. In addition to this, research has revealed that detaining terror suspects on vulnerable regions has adverse effects towards fighting acts of terror. For instance, numerous countries that have been perceived as failed states counteract against the policy and this makes it hard to achieve positive results. Needless to say, this is a successful option of war on terror even though it can be made effective when reinforced by other policies in addition to political will by the affected countries to arrest and detain terror suspects. The second option According to Swain (2012, p. 237), prosecuting terror suspect is one of the option polices that can help to end terrorism. One of the merits of this policy is that it helps to prevent terror groups from expanding. For instance, when chief suspects are arrested and prosecuted, it largely demoralizes the low-ranking members and often breaks the terror networks. Research has revealed that arresting and prosecuting chief suspects disrupts local and global terrorist operations making it impossible to commit predicate crimes. Nevertheless, Romaniuk (2012, p. 152) argues that one of the demerits of this policy is that it requires the administrators to have sophisticated skills of detecting and arresting terror suspects. This is due to the fact that terrorists often have dynamic skills that are easy to replace with new ones.Advertising Looking for proposal on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this case, it is probable that the administrators will only be able to arrest and prosecute low-level members leaving behind chief organizers of terror acts. Despite the fact that this policy might be faced by numerous challenges, is definite that it is effective in fighting terror acts. This is due to the fact that it might not wholly help to eradicate terrorism but will highly contribute to decimating the vice (Tosini 2012, p.115). It is imperative to mention that the policy has been amended to boost its effectiveness whereby it targets not merely terror suspects but also those individuals or governments and organizations that fund terrorist activities. The heavy support that terrorists receive mainly through monetary funding is indeed a great threat towards fighting the vice. The third Option In spite of the above options of fighting terror, the US authority should legalize the policy of using military force in countering terrorism. In a more succinct manner, the US administra tion should use legal authority to wage war against organizations, states and individuals who support terror groups (McCrisken 2011, p. 781). It is essential to note that capturing and fighting suspects will not be effective if the policy does not target to paralyze radical clerics who are responsible for training and recruiting terror groups (Tosini 2012, p. 115). From a careful review of history, the US military has waged war against terror in Iran and Afghanistan but this has been more of a losing strategy since the army targets suspects leaving behind the main protagonists (Berkowitz 2012, p.104). Nonetheless, use of military force in terror prone countries will help to disrupt and down-size insurgent networks of terrorism. Needless to say, this policy has proved to be successful in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq which have been viable breeding grounds for terrorism (Swain 2012, p 237). Nevertheless, it is imperative to take note that this policy can cause deadlier effec ts especially in a case whereby the terror groups decide to avenge in terms of waging war to the opponents. This has been witnessed in Iraq where terror groups counterattack the US army (Orr 2012, p.93). Historical scholars criticize this policy since they claim that it targets to treat the symptoms rather than the cause of acts of terror. In addition to this, this policy can cause catastrophic effects such as mass destruction as it has been witnessed in North Korea and Iran (Anderson 2011, p. 216). In line with this, it has been noted that the public in US has been pessimistic on the military force policy due to the fact that it is expensive and that the operation claims treasure and lives of innocent people. Essentially, this policy is effective especially when there exists an ample data base that can be used to track down and fight terror groups and their associates (Aldrich 2009, p. 122). From a theoretical perspective, the option is successful since it has been used previously in terror prone countries and positive outcomes have been realized. Which policy option do you recommend? According to Orr (2012, p.93), war on terror requires the US administrators to use numerous polices to counter both local and global operations. Needless to say, the identified policies call for myriads of legal frameworks in order to achieve positive results. One of the most effective options of fighting terrorism involves the use of wide ranging authority to arrest and prosecute terror suspects (Buffton 2011, p. 116). In addition, this policy will help to curb local and global terror groups who are responsible for causing insurgency. Moreover, in order to promote long-term interests, the US administrators should use sophisticated strategies to ensure that individuals who are responsible for funding terror groups get prosecuted under legal justification of the rule of law (Anderson 2011, p. 216). References Aldrich, J 2009, US-European Intelligence Co-operation to Counter-Terro rism: Low Politics and Compulsion. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, vol. 11 no. 1, pp.122-139. Anderson, B 2011, â€Å"Facing the Future Enemy: US Counterinsurgency Doctrine and the Pre-insurgent.† Theory, Culture Society, vol. 28 no. 8, pp.216-219. Berkowitz, P 2012, â€Å"Shawcross on Terror ,† Policy Review, vol. 1 no. 171, pp.103-109. Buffton, D 2011, â€Å"War on terror, inc.: corporate profiteering from the politics of fear.International.† Journal on World Peace, vol. 28 no. 3, pp.115-118. Homolar, A 2011, â€Å"Rebels without a conscience: The evolution of the rogue states narrative in US security policy.† European Journal of International Relations, vol. 17 no. 4, pp.705-711. McCrisken, T 2011, â€Å"Ten years on: Obamas war on terrorism in rhetoric and practice. International Affairs, vol. 87 no. 4, pp.781-801. Morris, T. Crank, J 2011, â€Å"Toward The phenomenology of Terrorism.† Implications for research a nd policy, vol. 26 no. 3, pp. 219-228. Murray, N 2011, â€Å"Obama and the global war on terror.† Race Class, vol. 53 no. 2, pp.84-86. Orr, A 2012, â€Å"Terrorism: A Philosophical Discourse.† Journal of Applied Security Research, vol. 7 no.1, pp. 93-98. Romaniuk, S 2012, â€Å"Slaying the Dragon: Combating Al-Qaeda and the Threat of Militant Islam.† Journal of Politics and Law, vol. 5 no. 1, pp.151-166. Swain, R 2012, â€Å"U.S. Army Doctrine From the American Revolution to the War on Terror.† The Journal of Military History, vol. 76 no. 1, pp. 237-242. Tosini, D 2012, â€Å"The autonomy of law in the war on terror: A contribution from social systems theory.† International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, vol. 40 no. 2 pp.115-118.

Chinatown Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chinatown - Article Example Apart from having a cultural identity, the China town area seems to have a religious touch too. The presence of five churches and a Synagogue towards the outer districts of the area point towards the fact that the area holds religious significance for the residents of the city, and witnessing weekly congregation must be a norm of the area. In this sense, the present anatomy of the area seems quite favorable, since the center of China town remains isolated from the influence of such gatherings. Interesting to note is the location of these places of worship, as they provide a means of uninterrupted access to those who have no interest in the nearby main China town, which lacks a prominent religious identity. Regarding the future, it can be said that any possible increase in the number of visitors of the religious shrines is less likely to interfere with the activities of Central China town and therefore the town will continue to possess its central position in the area. A large number of buildings of monetary institutions indicate that the area is quite important for business activities. The location of these buildings is such that they are close to central China town. Most of these buildings are located in the districts that are located close to the nodes, which are in fact intersections of the various paths. This is perhaps a strategic move of such institutions, since such locations provide enhanced exposure which ultimately translates into improved business and therefore improved monetary benefits. In addition to the central location of monetary institutions, the central China town is also well-laden with places that provide opportunities for public gatherings. These districts allow businesses like restaurants, bakeries, Cafà © etc. to flourish. In other words, these businesses compliment the monetary businesses that prevail in the area. The presence of multiple nodes in the area possibly ensures free movement of

Project study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Project study - Essay Example The tourism and leisure sector has hugely varied career opportunities, ranging from management of hotels or sports centres, to managing logistics for exhibitions and organising holiday adventures. University courses in Tourism and Leisure Management are diverse, which allows the student to learn and master different professional skills required for future success in tourism and leisure careers (ljmu.ac.uk, 2015: p1). Moreover, the course helps the student gain relevant, specialised practical experience and knowledge. One aspect that is common for all tourism and leisure careers is the focus on people, customer service, and hospitality (ljmu.ac.uk, 2015: p1). This means that there is a need for successful students to effectively communicate with diverse individuals, while also handling different challenges and tasks and deriving pleasure from ensuring others have a good experience. These are some of the main reasons why I want to study Tourism and Leisure Management. Tourism is one of the business world’s fastest growing sectors and I believe that taking this course will provide a solid grounding in practice and theory of tourism management, while also preparing me for a successful career in the leisure and tourism industry. In addition, this course, with its industry-specific modules (ljmu.ac.uk, 2015: p1), should aid me in developing an array of business skills that can be applied to the broader commercial market. The Tourism and Leisure Management course at Liverpool John Moores University was recently ranked in the national top 10% for universities offering the same course (ljmu.ac.uk, 2015: p1). Moreover, its linkages local museums, the Mersey Partnership, tourism and leisure facilities, and transport companies provides a good environment for practical learning. The Liverpool Hope University has similar benefits, although its linkages are not as appropriate or broad as those at Liverpool John Moores

Microscopy and the Metric System Essay Example for Free

Microscopy and the Metric System Essay 1. List the components of the compound microscope and their function. 2. determine the total magnification given that you are using a compound microscope with the following objectives: 4x, 10x, 40x, and 100x 3. what is meant by the depth of field? 4. what is meant by the field of view? 5. describe the process of making a wet mount. ________________________________________________________________________________ 1. -Focal adjustment; used to adjust height of stand to adjust closer too or farther from slide. -eyepiece; used to look into to see what is on the slide closer -arm; hold when carrying, also used to -objective lenses; must use smallest objective lens, they have different levels of magnification -stand; used to hold up the microscope. -light source; needs to be turned on to be able to see. -base; hold when carrying, also used for standing up microscope. 2. 4x=40x , 10x=100x , 40x=400x , 100x=1000x 3. Depth of field is the distance between the nearest and the furthest objects that give an image its focus in a camera. 4. Field of view is the area that is visible. 5. Mix sample to make sure it is properly suspended. Take dropper to pick up sample material. Put a small amount on the glass slide. Take a cover glass by the corners with tweezers to not get any finger prints. Put cover from corner down to avoid air bubbles. If too much water use a tissue or filter paper to suck up remaining water. Part B: 1. Linear measurements: measure the width of your textbook in cm and then convert to mm. 2. Conversions: convert 100 grams to mg and then ug 3. Weight measurements: using your scale, record the mass of an object in grams and include the name of the object you have measured. Once you have recorded your measurements in grams, please convert the measurement to mg and then ug. 4. Volume measurements: define meniscus and describe how you would read the volume of a liquid in a gradulated cylinder. 5. Temperature measurements: Record the temperature of your skin and of the room in celsius. ________________________________________________________________________________ 1. 22.4 cm is equal to 224 mm 2. 100g is equal to 100,000mg which is equal to 100ÃŽ ¼g 3. A pencil weighs 9g which is equal to 9,000mg which is equal to 9ÃŽ ¼g 4. A meniscus is the curved upper surface of a liquid in a tube or a lens that is convex on one side and concave on the other. To read the volume of a liquid in a gradulated cylinder compare the bottom of the meniscus to the nearest graduation or the ring, at eye level. 5. 37 degrees celsius on my skin and the room is 21 degrees celsius

The Impact of Negro Spirituals on Todays Music Essay -- Exploratory E

The Impact of Negro Spirituals on Today's Music I believe that it would be difficult for someone to make the argument that Negro spirituals have not been influential in the field of music, much less the realm of gospel music today. However, church members often do not make the time to reflect on the heritage of a hymn or song to realize the meaning that the particular piece has carried with it through the decades, even centuries. With this in mind, I am going to look at the history of the Negro spiritual and then at specific hymns in the 1991 Baptist Hymnal, published by Convention Press, to see just what impact the Negro spiritual has had on today's church music. I believe that we will find that these songs have had a significant affect on our music, and that without it, we would not have many of the hymns that are now considered standard church music. An important observation regarding African music comes from Richard Jobson in The Golden Trade or a Discovery of the River Gambra [Gambia] and the Golden Trade of the Aethiopians. Although published in 1623, we learn a lot about the nature of African music when we read: "There is without a doubt, no people on the earth more naturally affected to the sound of musicke than these people; which the principal persons [that is, the kings and chiefs] do hold as an ornament of their state, so as when wee come to see them their musicke will seldome be wanting" (qtd. in Southern 4). By understanding that music was of utmost importance to the original slaves, we understand how the reverence of music was handed down through the many generations of slaves on the plantations. It is apparent that music was the highest form of expression for Africans, as well as... ...ital Schomburg African American Women Writers in the 19th Century Works Consulted Fisher, Miles Mark. Negro Songs in the United States. New York: Russell & Russell, 1968. Forbis, Wesley L. The Baptist Hymnal. Nashville: Convention Press, 1991. "God's gonna trouble the water: The essence of African American spirituality." U.S. Catholic. Nov. 1995. ProQuest. Online. 3 Aug. 1998. Maultsby, Portia K. Afro-American Religious Music: A Study in Musical Diversity. The Papers of the Hymn Society of America. 35. Springfield: The Hymn Society of America, n.d. Southern, Eileen. Readings In Black American Music. New York: WW Norton, 1971. ---. The Music of Black Americans: A History. New York: WW Norton, 1971. Thurman, Howard. Deep River and the Negro Spiritual Speaks of Life and Death. Richmond: Friends United Press, 1975.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 16

â€Å"Georgina?† â€Å"I'm still here.† â€Å"Pretty fucked up, huh? I guess this kills your angel theory.† â€Å"I'm not so sure.† My initial feeling of dismay was being replaced by a new idea, one that had been percolating in the back of my mind ever since I read the biblical passage at Terry and Andrea's. I wondered now†¦ wondered exactly what we were dealing with, if it was an angel after all. The words in Genesis came back to me: There were giants in the earth in those days†¦ the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown†¦ â€Å"What's Jerome saying about all of this?† â€Å"Nothing. What'd you expect?† â€Å"Everyone else is okay, though?† â€Å"Fine, last I knew. What are you going to do? Nothing stupid, I hope.† â€Å"I have to go check on something.† â€Å"Georgina†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hugh warned. â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"Be careful. Jerome's in a terrible mood over all of this.† I laughed harshly. â€Å"I can imagine.† An awkward silence hung on the line. â€Å"What else aren't you telling me?† He hesitated a moment longer. â€Å"This†¦ this is a surprise to you, right? This Lucinda thing?† â€Å"Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be?† Another pause. â€Å"It's just†¦ well, you've got to admit it's kind of weird, first Duane†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Hugh!† â€Å"And then, I mean, when no one could contact you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I told you, my cell phone broke. You can't be serious about this.† â€Å"No, no. It's just†¦ I don't know. I'll talk to you later.† I disconnected. Lucinda dead? Lucinda, with her plaid skirt and bob? It was impossible. I felt terrible; I'd just seen her the other day. Sure, I'd called her a sanctimonious bitch, but I hadn't wanted this. Any more than I'd wanted Duane dead. Yet, the connections Hugh had drawn were weird, weirder than I liked to admit. I'd argued with both Duane and Lucinda, and they'd died shortly thereafter. But Hugh†¦ how did he fit in? Some friend. From what I heard, he received a great deal of amusement telling anyone that would listen about your little whip and wings getup. I remembered Luanda's jibe. I had indeed had a small flare-up with the imp just before his attack. A small flare-up and a small attack, considering he had lived. I shivered, unsure as to what this meant. Doug walked in. â€Å"You get everything straightened out?† â€Å"Yeah. Thanks.† We stood there uncomfortably for a moment until I finally unlocked the floodgates of my guilt. â€Å"Doug, I-â€Å" â€Å"Forget it, Kincaid. It's nothing.† â€Å"What I said, I shouldn't have. I was – â€Å" â€Å"Wasted. Trashed. Flat on your ass drunk. It happens.† â€Å"Still, I had no right. You were trying to be nice, and I turned complete psycho bitch on you.† â€Å"You weren't that psycho.† â€Å"But definitely a bitch?† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He hid a smile, not meeting my eyes. â€Å"I'm sorry, Doug. I'm really sorry.† â€Å"Quit it. I can't take much more of this sentimentality.† I leaned over and squeezed his arm, resting my head slightly on his shoulder. â€Å"You're a good guy, Doug. A really good guy. And a good friend. And I'm sorry†¦ sorry for a lot of things that have – or haven't – happened between us.† â€Å"Hey, forget about it. It's nothing between friends, Kin- caid.† A pregnant pause hung between us; he was still clearly uncomfortable with this exchange. â€Å"Did†¦ did everything turn out all right? I lost track of you after the show. That outfit you have on doesn't reassure me any.† â€Å"You'll never believe whose shirt this is,† I teased, subsequently telling him the whole tale of getting sick with Seth and the follow-up birthday party. Doug was pushing hysterics by the time I finished, albeit in a relieved sort of way. â€Å"Mortensen's a good guy,† he finally said, still laughing. â€Å"He says the same thing about you.† Doug grinned. â€Å"You know he's – oh, man. I forgot, what with all those phone calls.† Turning to the desk, he sifted through papers and books, finally producing a small white envelope. â€Å"You got a note. Paige said she found it last night. I hope it's good news.† â€Å"Yeah, me too.† But I had my doubts when I saw it. I took it gingerly, like something that might burn me. The paper and calligraphy were identical to the last one's. Opening up the envelope, I read: So you're interested in fallen angels, are you? Well, there'll be a hands-on demonstration tonight. It should prove more informative than your current endeavors and won't require you screwing your boss in order to get help with extrapolation – not that watching you make a whore of yourself didn't have its moments. I looked up, meeting Doug's curious eyes. â€Å"No worries,† I told him lightly, folding the note up and placing it in my purse. â€Å"This is old news.† Hugh's report implied Lucinda had been killed last night, and this note had been slipped to me beforehand, according to Doug. The warning had gone unheeded. This person apparently didn't have a good grasp of my schedule, or they hadn't wanted me to actually act beforehand. It was more like a scare tactic. Whatever their point in giving me a heads-up on Lucinda, it was nothing compared to the other reference in the note. The thought that someone had watched me have sex with Warren made my skin crawl. â€Å"Where are you off to now?† Doug asked. â€Å"Believe it or not, I need to find a book.† â€Å"You're in the right place.† We went back out to the information desk, where Tammi stood. It pleased me to see Doug training her in this post; we'd need people available for all jobs when the holidays came. â€Å"Practice time,† I told her. â€Å"Tell me where we keep this book.† I gave her the name, and she looked it up in the computer, frowning at the results. â€Å"We don't. We can order it for you.† I scowled, suddenly understanding why people seemed so pissed off when I told them that. â€Å"Great,† I muttered. â€Å"Where am I going to get it tonight?† Erik probably stocked it, but he'd be closed by now. â€Å"I hate to recommend this,† joked Doug, â€Å"but a library might have it.† â€Å"Maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I eyed a clock, unsure how late the local branches stayed open. â€Å"Um, Georgina?† began Tammi carefully. â€Å"I know a place that has it. And that's still open.† I turned to her in surprise. â€Å"Really? Where – no. No. Not there.† â€Å"I'm sorry.† Her blue eyes pleaded with me to forgive her for such tidings. â€Å"But there were three copies in stock the last time I was there. They couldn't have sold out.† I groaned, rubbing my temples. â€Å"I can't go in there. Doug, you want to run an errand for me?† â€Å"I've got to close,† he admonished. â€Å"What place are you avoiding?† † Krystal Starz, home of ‘freaky witch woman.' â€Å" â€Å"You couldn't pay me to go there.† â€Å"You could pay me,† noted Tammi, â€Å"but I'm closing too. If it makes it any easier, she's not there all the time.† â€Å"Yeah,† added Doug helpfully. â€Å"No manager is always on-duty. She must have other staff to cover her.† â€Å"Unless they're short-staffed,† I muttered. The irony. I left the store and got into my car for the journey to Krystal Starz. As I drove, I reflected on the two pieces of information I'd gleaned today. First, the nephilim reference. The King James translation had mentioned angelic offspring, even mentioned them as being abnormal, but I had never considered the possibilities half-angel children might present. The annotation in Terry and Andrea's translation had elaborated only slightly more on such creatures, but it had been enough to spring a lock in my head. Who better, I thought, to take on both angels and demons than some sort of bastard demigod? Of course, the whole discovery of the nephilim had come about as a spin-off to the verse Erik had given me about fallen angels. I could be running away with a blind lead here when really the culprit was just a regular immortal, albeit an unstable one, slaying members of both sides. After all, I still hadn't ruled Carter out of the realm of suspects, nor had I figured out why said killer would finish the job with Duane and Lucinda but let Hugh live. My other piece of data today, the new note, offered little I hadn't already known. I'd simply found it too late for it to be of preemptive use. And if some voyeur was following me around, there was nothing I could do about that either. Yet, it led to the obvious question: Why was this person following me around? Evidence suggested I was the only one receiving such attention, the only one receiving notes. And again, there was the niggling truth: Everyone I'd fought with had later become a victim†¦ When I had almost reached Krystal Starz, I pulled off onto a deserted street. Unbeknownst to Tammi and Doug, I already had a simple solution for facing Helena. Stripping out of the dress and Seth's shirt, lest they be consumed, I shape-shifted, taking on the guise of a tall, willowy Thai woman in a linen dress. I sometimes used this body to hunt in. The New Age bookstore was quiet when I entered, with only a couple of browsing customers. I saw the same boyish acolyte from before manning the register, and blessing upon blessing, I couldn't see Helena anywhere. Even disguised, I still had no desire to run into that nutcase. Smiling at the young man behind the counter, I approached and asked where I could find the book. Grinning back like an idiot – this was a very attractive form, after all – he led me to a certain section in their cryptic cataloging system, immediately finding the book. As Tammi had said, the store stocked three copies. We returned to the register to cash out, and I sighed in relief, thinking I was going to make it out of here unscathed. No such luck. The back door leading to the conference room opened, and Helena glided out as though conjured, clad in a flowing fuchsia gown, laden with her usual ten pounds of necklaces. Damn it. It was like the woman really did have a sixth sense or something. â€Å"Things are well, Roger?† she asked the clerk, using her raspy show voice. â€Å"Yes, yes.† He bobbed his head eagerly, apparently thrilled that she'd call him by first name. Turning to me, she gave me one of her diva smiles. â€Å"Hello, my dear. How are you this evening?† Remembering that this persona had no grudge with her, I forced a smile and answered politely, â€Å"Good, thank you.† â€Å"I imagine so,† she told me gravely as I handed cash to the boy, â€Å"because I sense excellent things about your aura.† I widened my eyes in what I hoped was a laywoman's awe. â€Å"Really?† She nodded, pleased at an appreciative audience. â€Å"Very bright. Very strong. Lots of color. You have good things in store for you.† This message was a far cry from the one she'd given me at Emerald City, I thought. Seeing my book, she eyed me sharply, probably because it was dense and filled with research, as opposed to most of the fluff she sold. â€Å"I'm surprised. I would have expected you to be reading up on how to focus your gifts more. Maximize your full potential. I have several titles I can recommend if you're interested.† Didn't this woman ever stop with the sales pitching? â€Å"Oh, I'd love to,† I oozed back, â€Å"but I only brought enough cash for this.† I gestured to the bag now in hand. â€Å"I understand,† she told me gravely. â€Å"Let me show you anyway. So you'll know what to come back for next time.† Torn, I contemplated which would cause me the most discomfort: going along with her or starting a feud in yet another body. Noticing a clock, I saw that the store closed in fifteen minutes. She couldn't waste that much of my time. â€Å"Okay. I'd love to.† Beaming, Helena led me across the store, another victim in her thrall. As promised, we looked at books on utilizing the strongest parts of the aura, a few books on crystal channeling, and even one on how visualization could help bring about the things we most wanted. This last one was so painful, I wanted to beat myself in the head with it to end my suffering. â€Å"Don't underestimate the power of visualization,† she whispered. â€Å"You can control your own destiny, set your own paths, rules, and stakes. I can sense great potential in you, but following these principles can help you unlock more – all the things you'd want for a happy and fulfilling life. Career, home, husband, children.† An image of Seth's niece curled in my lap suddenly came unbidden to me, and I hastily turned away from Helena. Succubi bore no children. No such future waited for me, book or no. â€Å"I need to go. Thanks for your help.† â€Å"Of course,† she responded demurely, handing me a list she'd conveniently written the titles – and prices – upon. â€Å"And let me give you some brochures for our upcoming programs and events.† It didn't end. She finally released me once I was sufficiently laden with paper, all of which I dumped into the trash bin in the parking lot. Lord, I hated that woman. I supposed Helena the schmoozing con artist was better than Helena the raving lunatic who had been at Emerald City, but really, it was a tough call. At least I'd obtained the book, which was all that mattered. I pulled off at one of my favorite Chinese places on the way home, back in my normal shape. Carrying Harrington's book in, I ate General Tso's chicken while reading the entry on nephilim : Nephilim are first referenced in Genesis 6:4, where they are sometimes referred to as â€Å"giants † or â€Å"fallen ones.† Regardless of the word's translation, the nephilim's origin is clear from this passage: they are the semi-divine offspring of angels and human women. Genesis 6:4 refers to them as â€Å"mighty† and â€Å"men of renown.† The rest of the Bible makes little reference to the nephilim's angelic siring, but encounters with giants and men of â€Å"great stature† are frequently recorded in other books, such as Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. Some have speculated that the â€Å"great wickedness† prompting the flood in Genesis 6 was actually a result of the nephilim's corrupting influence on mankind. Further apocryphal readings, such as 1 Enoch, elaborate on the plight of the fallen angels and their families, describing how the corrupted angels taught â€Å"charms and enchantments† to their wives while their offspring ra n wild throughout the earth, slaughtering and causing strife among humans. The nephilim, gifted with great abilities much like those of the ancient Greek heroes, were nonetheless cursed by God and neglected by their parents, consigned to wander the earth all their days without peace until eventually destroyed for the sake of mankind. I looked up, feeling breathless. I had never heard of anything like this. I had been right in telling Erik practitioners were the worst to ask about their own histories; surely this was something someone should have told me about before. Angelic offspring. Were nephilim real? Were they still around? Or was I really just chasing a dead end here, following a distracting lead when I should have restricted my search to immortals of my caliber or above, like Carter? After all, these nephilim were half-human; they couldn't be all that powerful. After paying the bill, I walked out to my car, opening my fortune cookie as I went. It was empty. Charming. A light rain misted around me, and fatigue crept in around my edges, not surprising considering the last twenty-four hours. I couldn't find a parking spot when I arrived in Queen Anne, which indicated some sort of sporting event or show going on nearby. Grumbling, I parked seven blocks away from home, vowing to never again lease an apartment that only had street spots. The wind Seth and I had felt earlier was fading, normal since Seattle was not a wind-prone city. The rain picked up in intensity, however, further darkening my mood. I was halfway home when I heard footsteps behind me. Pausing, I turned to look back but saw nothing save slick pavement, blearily reflecting streetlights. No one was there. I turned back around, starting to pick up my pace until I did a mental head slap and simply turned invisible. Jerome was right; I did think like a human too much. Still, I didn't like the street I'd chosen back; it was too deserted. I needed to cut over and walk the rest of the distance on Queen Anne Avenue itself. I had just turned the corner when something impacted me hard on my back, knocking me forward six feet, startling me so much that I shifted back to visible. I tried to turn around, flailing at my attacker, but another blow hit me in the head hard, knocking me to my knees. The sense I had was of being struck by something hand and arm shaped, but it packed a punch, more like a baseball bat. Again, my attacker hit me, this time across one of my shoulder blades, and I cried out, hoping someone would hear me. Another strike swiped the side of my head, the force pushing me over onto my back. I squinted up, trying to catch sight of who was doing this, but all I could dimly discern was a dark, amorphous shape, bearing down on me fast and hard as another blow made contact with my jaw. I could not get up from that onslaught, could not fight against the pain descending on me harder and thicker than the rain around me. Suddenly, brilliant light filled my vision – light so brilliant it hurt. I was not alone in my assessment. My attacker recoiled, letting me go, and I heard a strange high-pitched scream emitted above me. Attracted by some irresistible lure, I looked toward the light. A white-hot pain seared my brain as I did, my eyes taking in the figure moving toward us: beautiful and terrible, all colors and none, white light and darkness, winged and armed with a sword, features shifting and indiscernible. The next scream I heard was my own, the agony and ecstasy of what I had seen scorching my senses, even though I could no longer see it. My vision had gone white-whiter-whitest until all was black, and I could see nothing at all. Then, silence fell. I sat there sobbing, hurting physically and spiritually. Footsteps came, and I felt someone kneel beside me. Somehow, despite my blindness, I knew it was not my attacker. That person had long since fled. â€Å"Georgina?† a familiar voice asked me. â€Å"Carter,† I gasped out, throwing my arms around him.