Should There Be a Ban on Cell Phones While Driving Free Essays

Ought to there be a restriction on phones while driving? Over the previous decade, the innovation of PDAs has advanced enormously. With this innovation, individuals would now be able to make calls, content, check their email, and surf the net. Like never before individuals are utilizing their phones while driving; this has caused an expansion in the measure of passings brought about by diverted drivers to increment immensely. We will compose a custom paper test on Ought to There Be a Ban on Cell Phones While Driving? or on the other hand any comparative point just for you Request Now Numerous states have set a prohibition on the utilization of mobile phones while driving; a few states will permit individuals to chat on telephone on the off chance that they are utilizing a without hands gadget. Numerous states have set bans the utilization of cellphones for transport drivers and adolescents. Florida, in any case, doesn't have any bans on the utilization of mobile phones while driving. The National Safety Board is attempting to put a prohibition on all mobile phones while driving in each state. Numerous individuals state that they don't need a prohibition on phones. Individuals accept, that it’s not only a wireless that causes interruptions that cause mishaps it’s likewise eating, putting on cosmetics, and so on ; accordingly if there is a boycott put on phones while driving, so should different things that cause interruptions.. New information from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration expresses that, â€Å"The refreshed appraisal gauges that at any rate 23 percent of all car accidents †or possibly 1. 3 million accidents †include mobile phone use per year†. There are numerous passings consistently, caused from occupied drivers utilizing their PDAs while driving; a prohibition on mobile phones would be a decent beginning stage to help shut down the pointless passings, brought about by wireless diverted drivers. The most effective method to refer to Should There Be a Ban on Cell Phones While Driving?, Essay models

Free Essays on Grant Wood

Award Wood was conceived on a homestead close Anamosa, Iowa on February 13, 1891. After his father’s passing in 1901, the Wood family moved to Cedar Rapids where Grant joined in school and even at an early age uncovered his imaginative ability. He and his companion, Marvin Cone, made landscape for plays and drawing for their secondary school yearbook and both were eager volunteers at the Cedar Rapids Art Association. The evening of his high school graduation in 1910, Grant Wood boarded a train for Minneapolis where he selected in workmanship school. He got back in 1911 and started instructing in a one-room nation school. In 1913, he moved to Chicago to go to the Art Institute and worked in a silversmith shop. Afterward, subsequent to serving in the Army as a cover painter, Wood indeed returned to Cedar Rapids and showed craftsmanship in the open schools.(Cedar Rapids Museum of Art 1) He filled in as craftsman in habitation at the University of Iowa from 1935 to 1942. While abroad, Grant Wood was presented to current patterns in European work of art butconcentrated on the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist styles. In this, he was severaldecades behind European painters yet current with most American craftsmen. Wood is most popular for his later artworks, which delineates the scenes and individuals of his local Iowa. A pioneer in the regionalists school of twentieth century American craftsmanship, he was emphatically impacted by the topic and strategy of different German and Flemish painters of the Renaissance (fourteenth century to seventeenth century). (Award Wood Painting 1) In deciphering their adapted convention to the American scene, be that as it may, he included his own unmistakable contacts of incongruity and authenticity. This humorous treatment can be seen in Wood's most celebrated work, the twofold representation American Gothic. Stone City, Fall Plowing and American Gothic are available topic in the title. They are in creative structure which advises us about existence. He is the inten... Free Essays on Grant Wood Free Essays on Grant Wood Award Wood was conceived on a ranch close Anamosa, Iowa on February 13, 1891. After his father’s passing in 1901, the Wood family moved to Cedar Rapids where Grant joined in school and even at an early age uncovered his creative ability. He and his companion, Marvin Cone, made view for plays and drawing for their secondary school yearbook and both were excited volunteers at the Cedar Rapids Art Association. The evening of his high school graduation in 1910, Grant Wood boarded a train for Minneapolis where he enlisted in workmanship school. He got back in 1911 and started instructing in a one-room nation school. In 1913, he moved to Chicago to go to the Art Institute and worked in a silversmith shop. Afterward, in the wake of serving in the Army as a disguise painter, Wood by and by returned to Cedar Rapids and showed workmanship in the open schools.(Cedar Rapids Museum of Art 1) He filled in as craftsman in living arrangement at the University of Iowa from 1935 to 1942. While abroad, Grant Wood was presented to current patterns in European work of art butconcentrated on the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist styles. In this, he was severaldecades behind European painters however current with most American specialists. Wood is most popular for his later artistic creations, which portrays the scenes and individuals of his local Iowa. An innovator in the regionalists school of twentieth century American workmanship, he was firmly affected by the topic and method of different German and Flemish painters of the Renaissance (fourteenth century to seventeenth century). (Award Wood Painting 1) In interpreting their adapted custom to the American scene, in any case, he included his own particular contacts of incongruity and authenticity. This mocking treatment can be seen in Wood's most popular work, the twofold representation American Gothic. Stone City, Fall Plowing and American Gothic are available topic in the title. They are in masterful structure which educates us about existence. He is the inten...

Interview Tips 10 Tips to Improve Interview Performance

Interview Tips 10 Tips to Improve Interview Performance You’ve been on a job hunt for weeks, months, or maybe even years. You finally get that email, or call or text message inviting you to an interview.That is exciting. But it could also make you quite anxious.Will the interviewer like you? What kind of questions will she ask you? Will you be able to answer them all? Correctly? Well enough to get the job?To familiarize yourself with interview questions, read our article on difficult interview questions. It might help to also know that there are funny questions you could be asked during an interview.Today we tell you how to outperform the other candidates and get hired.It’s a tough competition and this is just the first interview. You have to outshine everyone else. And here is how to do it.To make it easier to work on these tips, we have divided them into two. There are things to do while preparing for the interview and those applicable to the interview as it happens.BEFORE THE INTERVIEWPreparing for an interview starts with the mome nt you see a job advertisement. As soon as you decide to apply for the job, you should start preparing for the interview.This is something you do in your mind to ready yourself for the job.The good thing about an interview is that in case you missed something in your resume, you can make corrections.It therefore doesn’t matter whether you did these things before applying for the job or not. The tips provided in this section are still relevant.They will help you close the gaps which are open and help you solidify your case for the job.Here is what you do.Research the CompanyIt is obvious that researching the company is a necessity. It goes without saying.But if you have been invited to an interview, then you need to do this again. This time round, more keenly.You have to understand that you have now moved closer to getting the job. Many people applied and some weeding out was done. You survived that stage. So you cannot afford to take this step lightly.Researching the company shoul d lead you to several pieces of information. Some of the most important are:1. Company visionThe company’s vision statement should be one you know. You should be able to tell your interviewer what their vision is.This shows that you are indeed in tune with what the company seeks to achieve in the long run.More than that, this is beneficial to you as well.Would you like to be part of a team working towards going to the moon while your dream is to become a farmer in Indiana?This kind of difference can ruin your morale and negatively affect both your work and life.2. Company missionThe company’s mission is related to the vision. However, this is more short-term. Read our article on inspiring mission and vision statements for a deeper understanding.The mission is what you will be looking to achieve on a daily basis. Your daily work will be centered around this. Knowing the company’s mission tells the hiring manager that you’re ready to begin working.3. Core valuesThere is nothin g that defines a company better than its core values. The mission and vision statement aside, the values say more. They actually tell how possible it is for the company to achieve its goals.For example, a company may have a mission of “always satisfying customer expectations.” The values may be all about work efficiency and maximum productivity.Since values influence the company’s culture, too much internal competition may affect the focus on the customer.When you know the core values of a company, then you can easily adapt to them. You will then sub-consciously start acting in line with the culture created by the values.This will be evident to a keen interviewer through your words and body language. It will work for you.4. Product or service providedThere is no way you can go to an interview in a company whose product or service you don’t understand. Note that the key word here is understand.It’s one thing to know that the company operates a hotel chain. It’s a totally different thing to know what cuisine they specialize in.This can really set you apart because in your answers, you can mention aspects of that cuisine.For example, if the hotel is mediterranean, you can talk of the health benefits of the mediterranean diet.Mention some scientific report on the low rates of cardiac diseases among the consumers of that diet and the hiring manager will know that she has someone for the job.5. Industry competitionInterviews are an opportunity for the candidates to impress the interviewer. The interviewer on the other hand seeks to pick the best candidate.Being a business, the company is out to make profits and grow. You therefore need to know who is challenging them at that.If it’s a not-for-profit organization, then find out the challenges they face in their mission. These simply tell the interviewer that you are in tune with the situation. You are thus likely to start contributing to the solution faster.These are some of the key things you need to g et right. You may not be asked about them. But the information will give you an opportunity to show how you are the best fit for the job.Work on Your ResumeYou have already sent your resume so you’re not preparing another one. What you are to do is pick it up and go through it. Check what you wrote.Did you make any mistakes? Did you misrepresent yourself? Did you fail to mention something?Take note of these and come up with ways of covering the mistakes. “Covering the mistakes” here does not mean lying in case you misrepresented yourself. Lying is the worst mistake you can ever make. Whether in your resume or in an interview.Lying rarely goes far and paying for it is never cheap.What we mean here is that you need to find a way of correcting the mistake. You know the truth which you ought to have stated.Therefore, get a way of explaining it without necessarily saying that you lied.The Dress CodeThis is a big one, especially if you are a millennial. Or are simply the type who dr ess casually.Don’t be fooled by anyone. Casual dressing has no place in job interviews.You may see the employees of the company dressing casually but that is no license for you to do the same.As for now, acknowledge the difference between you and them.If you get the job and you confirm that it’s okay to dress casually, then fine. If the job description said you can dress in smart casual clothing, that’s okay. If it didn’t, don’t use the interview to test the waters.Interviews are business meetings between strangers. And to make it sink deeper, the odds are against you. You don’t really have the same bargaining power since the interviewer is the decision maker.So dress officially. If you are a lady, put on a smart skirt suit. Check the length of the skirt. It should at least, be at your knees. For guys, you have no option but to go for suits.The only thing you may do without is the coat. But you must have a tie on.Colors should be plain blue, black or gray. The shoes shou ld be black or brown and not any kind of open shoes. Source: Career AddictRaise Your Confidence LevelsBeing on the receiving end of an interview can be intimidating.And some interviewers may try to intimidate you by asking difficult interview questions.Still, you are expected to show how confident you are.Check out the below statistics on confidence during interviews.65% of hiring managers don’t hire candidates who avoid eye contact20% of interviewers said candidates who crossed their arms during interviews were not considered for the job40% of interviewers will consider the tone of candidates’ voice before approving them for the next interviewIt is therefore imperative that you become confident, even if you normally aren’t.Your level of confidence shows your ability to deal with challenges. Being confident shows that you can stand for something you believe in and work towards your goals. In this case, the goals of the company.There are various ways of raising your confidence levels.There are things you can do on the spot like ta king a deep breath.This will work to slow down your heart rate and consequently relax you, helping you think more clearly.Clear thinking leads to better answers which you are confident about.For long-term results, you need to put in more specific effort beforehand. It will be best to think of these efforts not just for the interview but for the overall improvement of your life.Here are three things you can practice:1. Believe in yourselfThis is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Just believe in yourself. Believe in your abilities and know that they are great abilities. Nothing can build your confidence better than this.Start by knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Focus on your strengths   and refuse to be limited by your weaknesses.Focusing on your strengths will push you to come up with alternative ways to solve problems your weaknesses say you can’t solve. 2. Have a winning attitudeHaving believed in yourself, you then work on your attitude. Don’t hav e a victim or loser mentality.There is a reason you have the strengths you have. There are people lacking those same strengths which you have.You may have to affirm and re-affirm yourself but more than that, kick out negative thoughts. Many people have tried and failed?That’s them, not you.Everyone says it’s difficult? Let them see you prove their facts wrong.Think like a winner and you will be one.“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”Zig Ziglar3. Make no comparisonsMaking comparisons between yourself and others will kill your confidence. Everyone runs their own race.Know which way you are going and move without thinking much of others. Whether someone seems stronger or faster should not bother you.No-one has it all. Know your unique talents and use them to overcome the challenges coming your way.In being and showcasing your confidence during the interview, keep yourself in check. Do not display arrogance.Be care ful not to be over-confident as you may also come across as disrespectful in your responses.Interview a FriendDoesn’t practice make perfect? Try it and you will prove the old saying to be true.Call a friend and request them to act as an interviewee and answer the questions you ask. Unlike being interviewed by your friend, this will help you see the interview from the employer’s perspective.Imagine yourself as the CEO of a company and you need to fill a position. You want the best person and are willing to pay him an average salary. You are to push for your terms and ask relevant questions while your friend gives the bets answers.Gauge how your friend responds to your questions and negotiates the salary.This setup is great for opening up your mind to the kind of questions your interviewer may have in mind. You will then be able to prepare for them and maybe later ask your friend to interview you. You may both learn from it and improve as you see necessary.DURING THE INTERVIEWCome interview day, the tips to employ are slightly different from those above. You can view the interview as a business negotiation meeting where you need to win the heart of the hiring manager.The tips in this section are more about your conduct during the interview. Follow them to make the best first and lasting impression. That way, once it is time to pick one candidate, you will be the one standing out.Here you go.Check Your Communication SkillsCommunication skills are commonly talked about. Still, many fail in acquiring them.Why?They don’t practise.You will never be good in communication skills if all you do is read about them. These are things you decide to practise in your daily lifeâ€"in and out of work.For your interview, communication does not start when you open your mouth to say hello. It starts the moment you step into that room.As you get judged first of all based on your dressing, by just walking to the interview table, you are communicating.For this reason, we will br eak communication skills into six elements discussed below:1. Your walk into the room â€" your walking style speaks a lot. It tells what you feel. It shows your confidence level. It also says something about what you think of others. There are many conclusions that can be drawn from the way you walk.What you want to do is project confidence while showing respect for others.For this, do not walk slumping as though you have been forced to attend the interview against your will. Even if you have taken a beating from a hard life, the interview should cheer you up.2. The handshake â€" greet the person or people interviewing you with hand. The handshake also says something about your confidence.Business people gauge the confidence of business partners through handshakes. So make yours firm.Take the other person’s hand, wrap your fingers around their hand and give it a firm shake. Do not be vigorous.As you do this, be sure to have a smile on your face as you say Hello. If you are not off ered the seat immediately, don’t remain standing. Just ask, “May I sit?”3. Facial expression â€" your facial expression can communicate joy, anxiety, fear etc. So keep that in mind too. One way of showing confidence and maintaining control over your emotions is by keeping your facial expressions in check. Source: verywellmindPractise staying calm by breathing slowly.There are various breathing techniques you can employ to master this skill.When your breathing is controlled and your mind is at rest, your face will not betray you when an unexpected question is asked.4. Eye contact â€" if you are the shy type, you have some work to do. And you need to start as early as possible. You cannot evade the eyes of the interviewer and expect to get the job.Answering questions while looking away is a bad sign and it will quickly work against you.When you avoid eye contact, you are taken to be low on self-confidence.This is a trait which is not liked by employers. You also risk coming across as someone who is hiding something. If this conclusion is made about you, there is no way you are getting the job.5. Sitting posture â€" the same way your walking speaks volumes, so does your sitting position. You should always sit up with your back straight and your shoulders back. Bend your knees at a right angle and do not lean to either side. Also keep your feet flat on the floor. 6. Active listening â€" throughout the interview, you will be given lots of information about the company and the position you are interviewing for. Some of the questions you will be asked later will have their answers in something mentioned earlier.This is why you have to be very attentive during the interview.Active listening means that you not only listen, but also show that you are listening and understanding what is said.This can be seen by the other person through your facial expression but there is more to it than that.Since active listening helps build rapport and build trust, you need to actively work towards it.Use nodding to show your agreement with a point and paraphrase statements to show understanding.Also use verbal affirmations like “I see” and “Sure” before your responses.Be Succinct With Your AnswersThe Oxford Dictionary defines succinct as something briefly and clearly expressed. This is what should define your answers to the interview questions.Do not be over-detailed in your responses. Details may get the interviewer tired of listening to you.In many cases, being too detailed can also make you say the wrong thing. You may think that you are explaining   a point but that is not needed. Unless you are asked to give more details and expound on an answer, be brief.That however does not mean that you give one-word answers. Having understood the question asked, provide the answer which is relevant to the situation.If giving an example of how you did something in another company, keep the story short and to the point.Instead of giving the background and explaining the meetings you called, just mention the situation and steps taken. Mention specific results and that will be enough.Here is an example which does this very well:When working at ABC manufacturers, we once had more orders than we could supply in the given time frame. Finance could only give me half the amount I requested. Since I couldn’t hire extra workers, I engaged the delivery department to have their staff help out. I channeled the money from Finance to buying the whole team lunch and snacks over the weekend as we worked overtime. Come Monday, the order was ready for delivery and everyone was happy.This example does not go into the details of meetings with Finance and the delivery manager etc.It only shows the important aspects of the situation and how you came up with a solution and implemented it. It also shows your ingenuity in utilizing limited resources.Mind Your LanguageCommunication is either verbal or non-verbal. We have touched on the non-verbal: facial expressions, posture, eye contact etc. But what about the verbal?Verbal communication is the use of words to express or pass a message. It is said that humans do 93% non-verbal communication and only 7% verbal.Much of the questions in your interview will be using words. And your responses will also be through the sa me. This is where you need to be careful because you may use words which will disqualify you without your knowledge.This has a lot to do with the way you normally talk. If you usually use curse words or are a slang person, then watch out. Your slang and curse words may deny you the job you so much want. All it takes is just a simple slip of the tongue.Another category of words to avoid are the discriminatory ones.If you have personal prejudices against any gender, race, ethnicity, social class etc, you need to drop it.This may not be possible to drop at once. Therefore, for the sake of the interview, try pushing those thoughts to the back of your mind.Also, be careful of any sensitive topics the interviewer touches on so you don’t say anything wrong.Ask QuestionsMost interviews will always end with you being asked whether you have any questions. This used to take job candidates by surprise. Today, it has become so common that everyone prepares for that moment.This means that askin g questions in itself will not make you stand out. But you still need to stand out. So what do you do?Ask the kind of questions which will get the interviewer thinking about you. Ask questions which she will have to do some thinking before answering.Not necessarily because they are hard, but because she never expected them.Example questions you may ask are:“What would you like the person in this position to achieve in the first 6 months, 1 year or even 5 years?”“What do you enjoy most working in this company?”“What are the biggest challenges someone in this position will face?”Here are some more questions you can ask in an interview.Don’t Be DesperateThe very last tip is quite simple. Don’t hint at desperation for the job. It is obvious that you applied because you want the job. It is also the reason you came for the interview.So no-one really needs to hire you for any reason other than qualification for the position.You will thus do well not to say things like, “P lease consider me for the position. I really need this job.”Showing yourself to be desperate for the job will work against you. Employers don’t want desperate employees, they want confident and competent employees.If you are desperate, it means you will be at the mercy of everyone around you, trying to please them. That means you may compromise on the work simply to maintain relationships.Even in the event that the relationships are working against the company, you are likely to hold onto them.Desperate people are never confident people. They are easy to mislead and are rarely faithful. Whoever has power, even false power, wins their loyalty.If the interviewer concludes that you are this kind of a person, you can expect to receive no call for the second interview.CONCLUSIONForget luck and take responsibility for winning in the job interview.Prepare using these tips and you will have a reason to celebrate. Getting the job will also do more than fill your bank account.The victory and income will make you happy about yourself. This is an automatic confidence booster.

falling in love - 1935 Words

A lot of people who fall in love with a certain person cannot explain why this has happened to them when they are being asked. This is because romantic love has a very mysterious nature which cannot be easily explained and in this essay we are going to examine, as far as research allows us, some of those factors. Romantic love could be best explained as an emotion that guides a person to be attracted to another. Falling in love is an expression of loving somebody madly. Lamm and Wiesmann (1997) claimed that; liking is the desire to interact with another person, but love is also involving trust and being excited by another person. This suggests that there is a difference between liking and love . Sometimes we fall in love†¦show more content†¦The establishment of relationships rather attempts to diagnose tool (Sternberg, 1988) that is constructed based on the Triangular Theory. Research by Dutton Aron (1974) has examined the transfer of excitation in men and this directly explains why people fall in love. The normal excitation is a non-specific reaction with certain duration. Residues excitation from a previous state can be transferred to a new and heighten physical stimulation. In this particular study an attractive woman interviewed men as crossing either a suspension bridge of ropes, or a constant wooden bridge. Each participant was asked to recount a history in a deliberately vague image of a young woman. When they had finished the woman gave them her phone number if they wished to learn more about the study. As the researchers had predicted, the stories of participants who crossed the drawbridge apparently had greater physiological arousal and they contained more sexual references. Also, it was more likely to call the researcher after the investigation. This study showed that men misinterpreted their physical arousal, which was anxiety and in fact tho ught that the female researcher who asked them to complete the study was the main cause. Another explanation would be that men who selected the dangerous bridge were more risky and that those who crossed the normal bridge were more safe. Following from the alternative explanation the researcher conducted a follow up study by asking men to cross theShow MoreRelatedThe Feelings of Falling in Love1392 Words   |  6 PagesThe Feelings of Falling in Love What is Love? Is it attraction? Is it intimacy? Is it attachment? Love, in fact, is all of these things combined together. Love is spiritual, not physical. It is a union of souls and hearts and minds, not something you can t put under your microscope and understand! Love is an emotion combined with a series of feelings. These feelings can be immensely powerful and wonderful. 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Roth’s purpose is to inform people on the difference of fallingRead MoreFalling in Love with Your Best Friend?1660 Words   |  7 PagesFalling in love with your best friend The first question mark in the title is when I asked myself, â€Å"Should I do this?† And the latter one for, â€Å"Should I really do this?† This is one thing where I have always lagged – in taking decisions. I could hear the wind whilst I closed my eyes; felt its tempest gush as it passed by me. For a moment I felt like I was never calmer than this, and that I had never been this way before; a heart of mixed feelings. I remainedRead MoreFalling in Love with a Foreign Exchange Student1663 Words   |  7 PagesThe Trials and Tribulations of Falling in Love (with a foreign exchange student). Love is already a very complex and mysterious emotion from the very beginning. There are so many different variables and constants that you could almost look at love as a very complex mathematical equation. 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Chaucer s Candide And Shakespeare s Macbeth - 1317 Words

Many famous literary works were written as a way to give commentary on the society in which the author lived such as Voltaire’s’ Candide and Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Geoffrey Chaucer, famous for his The Canterbury Tales, and considered instrumental in the creation of English literature, is not as well known for social commentary in his writing. However, The Canterbury Tales do indeed possess insight and analysis of society, namely the role of the authority figures in the Church. Chaucer was critical of the abuses and misuses he saw in the authority within the Church. He demonstrated his awareness of and concern over the problematic behaviors of those in authority in the Church through his writings seen in The Canterbury Tales. Through†¦show more content†¦If one considers that Chaucer was also able to survive two regime changes, one would realize the immense diplomatic skill that Chaucer must have possessed. Typically, regime changes lead to massive uphea val in all positions of administration. Yet, Chaucer maintained his position as a royal diplomat regardless of the ruler. (Ackroyd 68). This alone gives testament to his indispensable worth to the British kingdom, which was, at that time in history, an institution second only to the Catholic Church. Thus, because of the power held by the Catholic Church, Chaucer would have likely had many encounters with the Church in its people and leaders. â€Å"An apt symbol for the Catholic culture of fourteenth-century London might be found in the fact that there were ninety-nine churches, and ninety-five inns, within the walls† (Ackroyd 8). Common street talk included such passing phrases like, â€Å"God save you,† â€Å"God give you grace,† and â€Å"God s speed† (Ackroyd 7). The Church’s reach stretched into the day-to-day life of all around Europe, regardless of class. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Chaucer’s poetry would focus so mu ch on religion and the practices of religion. And, because Chaucer participated devoutly in the religious practices, it makes sense that he would have felt an urgent desire to effect change in the faulty and corrupt practices of Church officials. Thus, Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales serve as a first-hand analysis of the

Zoe’s Tale PART III Chapter Twenty-Four Free Essays

string(48) " order to bring me here,† the Consu said\." I entered the storage deck of the other Obin ship. â€Å"So this is the human who has an entire race to do her bidding,† said the Consu waiting there for me. It was the only place on the Obin ship where he would fit, I guessed. We will write a custom essay sample on Zoe’s Tale PART III Chapter Twenty-Four or any similar topic only for you Order Now I smiled in spite of myself. â€Å"You laugh at me,† the Consu said. It spoke perfect English, and in a light, gentle voice, which was weird considering how much it looked like a large and savagely angry insect. â€Å"I’m sorry,† I said. â€Å"It’s just that it’s the second time in a day that someone’s said that to me.† â€Å"Well,† the Consu said. It unfolded itself in a way that made me want to run screaming in the other direction, and from somewhere inside its body a creepily humanlike arm and hand beckoned to me. â€Å"Come and let me get a look at you.† I took one step forward and then had a very difficult time with the next step. â€Å"You asked for me, human,† the Consu said. I developed a spine and walked over to the Consu. It touched and prodded me with its smaller arms, while its giant slashing arms, the ones the Consu used to decapitate enemies in combat, hovered on either side of me, at just about head level. I managed not to completely lose it. â€Å"Yes, well,† the Consu said, and I heard something like disappointment in its voice. â€Å"There’s nothing particularly special about you, is there? Physically. Is there something special about you mentally?† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"I’m just me.† â€Å"We’re all just ourselves,† the Consu said, and folded itself back into its self, much to my relief. â€Å"That is axiomatic. What is it about you that makes hundreds of Obin allow themselves to die to get to me, is what I am asking.† I felt sick again. â€Å"You said that hundreds of Obin died to bring you to me?† â€Å"Oh, yes,† the Consu said. â€Å"Your pets surrounded my ship with their own and tried to board it. The ship killed everyone that tried. They remained persistent and finally I became curious. I allowed one to board the ship and it told me that you had demanded the Obin convince the Consu to help you. I wanted to see for myself what sort of creature could so casually demand this, and could cause the Obin to fulfill it at such a cost to themselves.† It looked at me again curiously. â€Å"You appear upset,† it said. â€Å"I’m thinking about the Obin who died,† I said. â€Å"They did what you asked of them,† the Consu said, with a bored tone. â€Å"You didn’t have to kill so many of them,† I said. â€Å"Your pets didn’t have to offer up so many to sacrifice,† said the Consu. â€Å"And yet they did. You seem stupid so I will explain this to you. Your pets, to the extent that they can think, did this intelligently. The Consu will not speak to the Obin for their own behalf. We answered their questions long ago and it does not interest us to speak further on the subject.† â€Å"But you spoke to the Obin,† I said. â€Å"I am dying,† the Consu said. â€Å"I am on† – and here the Consu made a noise that sounded like a tractor falling down a hill – â€Å"the death journey that Consu prepared to move forward are permitted if in this life they have proven worthy. Consu on this journey may do as they please, including speaking to proscribed creatures, and may if asked appropriately grant a final boon. Your pets have spied on the Consu for decades – we were aware of this but did nothing about it – and knew the route of the death journey and knew the ceremonial ships those on the journey travel in. Your pets understood this was the only way they could talk to us. And your pets knew what it would require to interest me or any Consu enough to hear them. You should have known this when you made your demand.† â€Å"I didn’t,† I said. â€Å"Then you are foolish, human,† the Consu said. â€Å"If I were inclined to feel sorry for the Obin, I would do so because they had wasted their effort and diverted me from my journey on the behalf of someone so ignorant of the cost. But I do not feel sorry for them. They at least knew the cost, and willingly paid it. Now. You will either tell me how you demand I help you, or I will go and your pets’ deaths will have truly been for nothing.† â€Å"I need help to save my colony,† I said, and forced myself to focus. â€Å"My friends and family are there and are under threat of attack. It is a small colony and not able to defend itself. The Colonial Union will not help us. The Obin are not allowed to help us. The Consu have technology that could help us. I ask for your help.† â€Å"You said ‘ask,'† the Consu said. â€Å"Your pets said ‘demand.'† â€Å"I demanded help from the Obin because I knew I could,† I said. â€Å"I am asking you.† â€Å"I do not care about your colony or you,† the Consu said. â€Å"You just said that as part of your death journey you can grant a boon,† I said. â€Å"This could be it.† â€Å"It may be that my boon was to the Obin, in speaking to you,† the Consu said. I blinked at this. â€Å"How would it be a boon to them just to speak to me if you won’t at least think of helping me?† I said. â€Å"Then it would be you who wasted their sacrifice and effort.† â€Å"That is my choice,† the Consu said. â€Å"The Obin understood that in making the sacrifice the answer might be ‘no.’ This is another thing they understand that you don’t.† â€Å"I know there is a lot I don’t understand here,† I said. â€Å"I can see that. I’m sorry. But I still need help for my family and friends.† â€Å"How many family and friends?† the Consu said. â€Å"My colony has twenty-five hundred people,† I said. â€Å"A similar number of Obin died in order to bring me here,† the Consu said. You read "Zoe’s Tale PART III Chapter Twenty-Four" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"I didn’t know that would happen,† I said. â€Å"I wouldn’t have asked for that.† â€Å"Is that so?† the Consu said. It shifted its bulk and drew in toward me. I didn’t back away. â€Å"I don’t believe you, human. You are foolish and you are ignorant, that much is clear. Yet I cannot believe that even you did not understand what you were asking the Obin for when you asked them to come to us for your sake. You demanded help from the Obin because you could. And because you could you did not ask the cost. But you had to have known the cost would be high.† I didn’t know what to say to that. The Consu drew back and seemed to regard me, like it might an amusing insect. â€Å"Your capriciousness and callousness with the Obin interests me,† it said. â€Å"And so does the fact that the Obin are willing to give of themselves for your whims despite your lack of care for them.† I said something I knew I was going to regret, but I couldn’t help myself. The Consu was doing a really excellent job of pushing my buttons. â€Å"That’s a funny thing coming from someone from the race that gave the Obin intelligence but no consciousness,† I said. â€Å"As long as we’re talking about capriciousness and callousness.† â€Å"Ah. Yes, that’s right,† the Consu said. â€Å"The Obin told me this. You’re the child of the human who made the machines that let the Obin play at consciousness.† â€Å"They don’t play at it,† I said. â€Å"They have it.† â€Å"And it is a terrible thing that they do,† the Consu said. â€Å"Consciousness is a tragedy. It leads the whole race away from perfection, causes it to fritter its efforts on individual and wasteful effort. Our lives as Consu are spent learning to free our race from the tyranny of self, to move beyond ourselves and in doing so move our race forward. It is why we help you lesser races along, so you may also free yourselves in time.† I bit my cheek at this bit. The Consu would sometimes come down to a human colony, wipe it and everyone in it off the face of their planet, and then wait for the Colonial Defense Forces to come and fight them. It was a game to the Consu, as far as any of us could see. To say that they were doing it for our benefit was perverse, to say the least. But I was here to ask for help, not debate morals. I had already been baited once. I didn’t dare let it happen again. The Consu continued, oblivious to my personal struggles. â€Å"What you humans have done to the Obin makes a mockery of their potential,† it said. â€Å"We created the Obin to be the best among us all, the one race without consciousness, the one race free to pursue its destiny as a race from its first steps. The Obin were meant to be what we aspired to. To see them aspire to consciousness is to see a creature that can fly aspire to wallow in mud. Your father did the Obin no favors, human, in hobbling them with consciousness.† I stood there for a minute, amazed that this Consu would tell me, in seemingly casual conversation, things that the Obin had sacrificed half their number for so many years ago but were never allowed to hear. The Consu waited patiently for my response. â€Å"The Obin would disagree,† I said. â€Å"And so would I.† â€Å"Of course you would,† the Consu said. â€Å"Their love of their consciousness is what makes them willing to do the ridiculous for you. That and the fact that they choose to honor you for something that your father did, even though you had no hand in it. This blindness and honor is convenient to you. It is what you use to get them to do what you want. You don’t prize their consciousness for what it gives them. You prize it for what it allows you to do to them.† â€Å"That’s not true,† I said. â€Å"Indeed,† said the Consu, and I could hear the mocking tone in its voice. It shifted its weight again. â€Å"Very well, human. You have asked me to help you. Perhaps I will. I can provide you with a boon, one the Consu may not refuse. But this boon is not free. It comes with a cost attached.† â€Å"What cost?† I said. â€Å"I want to be entertained first,† the Consu said. â€Å"So I offer you this bargain. You have among you several hundred Obin. Select one hundred of them in any way you choose. I will ask the Consu to send one hundred of our own – convicts, sinners, and others who have strayed from the path and would be willing to attempt redemption. We will set them at each other, to the death. â€Å"In the end, one side will have a victory. If it is yours, then I will help you. If it is mine, I will not. And then, having been sufficiently amused, I will be on my way, to continue my death journey. I will call to the Consu now. Let us say that in eight of your hours we will start this entertainment. I trust that will be enough time for you to prepare your pets.† â€Å"We will have no problem finding a hundred volunteers among the Obin,† Dock said to me. It and I were in the conference room General Gau had lent me. Hickory and Dickory stood outside the door to make sure we weren’t disturbed. â€Å"I will have the volunteers ready for you within the hour.† â€Å"Why didn’t you tell me how the Obin planned to get the Consu to me?† I asked. â€Å"The Consu here told me that hundreds of Obin died to get him here. Why didn’t you warn me that would happen?† â€Å"I did not know how we would choose to try to get the Consu’s attention,† Dock said. â€Å"I sent along your requirement, along with my own assent. I was not a participant in making the choice.† â€Å"But you knew this could happen,† I said. â€Å"As a member of the Council I know that we have had the Consu under observation, and that there had been plans to find ways to talk to them again,† Dock said. â€Å"I knew this was one of them.† â€Å"Why didn’t you tell me?† I said. â€Å"I told you that attempting to speak to the Consu would come at a high cost,† Dock said. â€Å"This was the cost. At the time, the cost did not seem too high for you.† â€Å"I didn’t know that it would mean that hundreds of Obin would die,† I said. â€Å"Or that they would just keep throwing themselves into a Consu firing line until the Consu got curious enough to stop. If I had known I would have asked you to try something else.† â€Å"Given what you required us to do and the time in which we had to do it, there was nothing else,† Dock said. It came to me and opened up its hands, like it was trying to make me see something important. â€Å"Please understand, Zoe. We had been planning to petition a Consu on its death journey for a long time now, and for our own reasons. It was one of the reasons we were able to fulfill your requirement at all. Everything was already in place.† â€Å"But it was my order that killed them,† I said. â€Å"It is not your fault that the Consu required their deaths,† Dock said. â€Å"The Obin who were part of the mission had already known what was required to get the attention of the Consu. They were already committed to this task. Your request changed only the timing and the purpose of their mission. But those who participated did so willingly, and understood the reason for doing it. It was their choice.† â€Å"They still did it because I didn’t think about what I was asking,† I said. â€Å"They did it because you required our help,† Dock said. â€Å"They would have thought it an honor to do this for you. Just as those who will fight for you now will consider it an honor.† I looked at my hands, ashamed to look at Dock. â€Å"You said that you had already been planning to petition a Consu on its death journey,† I said. â€Å"What were you going to ask?† â€Å"For understanding,† Dock said. â€Å"To know why the Consu kept consciousness away from us. To know why they chose to punish us with its lack.† I looked up at that. â€Å"I know the answer,† I said, and told Dock what the Consu had told me about consciousness and why they chose not to give it to the Obin. â€Å"I don’t know if that was the answer you were looking for,† I said. â€Å"But that’s what this Consu told me.† Dock didn’t say anything. I looked more closely at it, and I could see it was trembling. â€Å"Hey,† I said, and got up from my chair. â€Å"I didn’t mean to upset you.† â€Å"I am not upset,† Dock said. â€Å"I am happy. You have given us answers to questions we have been asking since as long as our race has existed. Answers the Consu would not have given us themselves. Answers many of us would have given our lives for.† â€Å"Many of you did give your lives for them,† I said. â€Å"No,† Dock said. â€Å"They gave their lives to help you. There was no expectation of any compensation for the sacrifice. They did it because you required it. You did not have to give us anything in return. But you have given us this.† â€Å"You’re welcome,† I said. I was getting embarrassed. â€Å"It’s not a big thing. The Consu just told me. I just thought you should know.† â€Å"Consider, Zoe, that this thing that you just thought we should know was something that others would have seen as something to hold over us,† Dock said. â€Å"That they would have sold to us, or denied to us. You gave it freely.† â€Å"After I told you that I required your help and sent hundreds of Obin out to die,† I said, and sat back down. â€Å"Don’t make me out to be a hero, Dock. It’s not the way I feel right now.† â€Å"I am sorry, Zoe,† Dock said. â€Å"But if you will not be a hero, at least know that you are not a villain. You are our friend.† â€Å"Thank you, Dock,† I said. â€Å"That helps a little.† Dock nodded. â€Å"Now I must go to find the hundred volunteers you seek,† it said, â€Å"and to tell the Council what you have shared with me. Do not worry, Zoe. We will not disappoint you.† â€Å"This is what I have for you on short notice,† General Gau said. He swept an arm through the space station’s immense cargo bay. â€Å"This part of the station is just newly constructed. We haven’t actually used it for cargo yet. I think it’ll suit your purposes.† I stared at the immensity of the space. â€Å"I think so,† I said. â€Å"Thank you, General.† â€Å"It’s the least I could do,† General Gau said. â€Å"Considering how you’ve helped me just recently.† â€Å"Thank you for not holding the Consu invasion against me,† I said. â€Å"On the contrary, it’s been a benefit,† Gau said. â€Å"It stopped the battle around the space station before it could get truly horrific. The traitor crews assumed I had called those ships for assistance. They surrendered before I could correct the impression. You helped me quash the rebellion before it could get started.† â€Å"You’re welcome,† I said. â€Å"Thank you,† said Gau. â€Å"Now, of course, I would like them to go away. But it’s my understanding that they’re here to make sure we don’t do anything foolish with our Consu guest while he’s here. The ships are fighter drones, not even manned, but this is Consu technology. I don’t imagine if they opened fire on us we’d stand much of a chance. So we have an enforced peace here at the moment. Since it works for me, not against me, I shouldn’t complain.† â€Å"Have you found out any more about Nerbros Eser and what his plans are?† I asked. I didn’t feel like thinking about the Consu anymore. â€Å"Yes,† Gau said. â€Å"Lernin has been quite forthcoming now that he’s trying to avoid being executed for treason. It’s been a wonderful motivator. He tells me that Eser plans to take Roanoke with a small force of soldiers. The idea there is to show that he can take with a hundred soldiers what I couldn’t take with four hundred battle cruisers. But ‘take’ is the wrong word for it, I’m afraid. Eser plans to destroy the colony and everyone in it.† â€Å"That was your plan too,† I reminded the general. He bobbed his head in what I assumed was an acknowledgment. â€Å"You know by now, I hope, that I would have much preferred not to have killed the colonists,† he said. â€Å"Eser does not intend to offer that option.† I skipped over that piece of data in my head. â€Å"When will he attack?† I asked. â€Å"Soon, I think,† Gau said. â€Å"Lernin doesn’t think Eser has assembled his troops yet, but this failed assassination attempt is going to force him to move sooner than later.† â€Å"Great,† I said. â€Å"There’s still time,† Gau said. â€Å"Don’t give up hope yet, Zoe.† â€Å"I haven’t,† I said. â€Å"But I’ve still got a lot on my mind.† â€Å"Have you found enough volunteers?† Gau asked. â€Å"We have,† I said, and my face tightened up as I said it. â€Å"What’s wrong?† Gau said. â€Å"One of the volunteers,† I said, and stopped. I tried again. â€Å"One of the volunteers is an Obin named Dickory,† I said. â€Å"My friend and my bodyguard. When it volunteered I told it no. Demanded that it take back its offer. But it refused.† â€Å"Having it volunteer could be a powerful thing,† Gau said. â€Å"It probably encouraged others to step forward.† I nodded. â€Å"But Dickory is still my friend,† I said. â€Å"Still my family. Maybe it shouldn’t make a difference but it does.† â€Å"Of course it makes a difference,† Gau said. â€Å"The reason you’re here is to try to keep the people you love from being hurt.† â€Å"I’m asking people I don’t know to sacrifice themselves for people I do,† I said. â€Å"That’s why you’re asking them to volunteer,† Gau said. â€Å"But it seems to me the reason they’re volunteering is for you.† I nodded and looked out at the bay, and imagined the fight that was coming. â€Å"I have a proposition for you,† the Consu said to me. The two of us sat in the operations room of the cargo bay, ten meters above the floor of the bay. On the floor were two groups of beings. In the first group were the one hundred Obin who had volunteered to fight for me. In the other group were the one hundred Consu criminals, who would be forced to fight the Obin for a chance to regain their honor. The Consu looked scary big next to the Obin. The contest would be modified hand-to-hand combat: The Obin were allowed a combat knife, while the Consu, with their slashing arms, would fight bare-handed, if you called being able to wield two razor-sharp limbs attached to your own body â€Å"bare-handed.† I was getting very nervous about the Obin’s chances. â€Å"A proposition,† the Consu repeated. I glanced over at the Consu, who in himself nearly filled the operations room. He’d been there when I had come up; I wasn’t entirely sure how he’d gotten himself through the door. The two of us were there with Hickory and Dock and General Gau, who had taken it upon himself to act as the official arbiter for the contest. Dickory was on the floor. Getting ready to fight. â€Å"Are you interested in hearing it?† the Consu asked. â€Å"We’re about to start,† I said. â€Å"It’s about the contest,† the Consu said. â€Å"I have a way that you can get what you want without having the contest at all.† I closed my eyes. â€Å"Tell me,† I said. â€Å"I will help you keep your colony safe by providing you a piece of our technology,† the Consu said. â€Å"A machine that produces an energy field that robs projectiles of their momentum. A sapper field. It makes your bullets fall out of the air and sucks the power from missiles before they strike their targets. If you are clever your colony can use it to defeat those who attack it. This is what I am allowed and prepared to give to you.† â€Å"And what do you want in return?† I asked. â€Å"A simple demonstration,† the Consu said. It unfolded and pointed toward the Obin on the floor. â€Å"A demand from you was enough to cause hundreds of Obin to willingly sacrifice themselves for the mere purpose of getting my attention. This power you have interests me. I want to see it. Tell this one hundred to sacrifice themselves here and now, and I will give you what you need in order to save your colony.† â€Å"I can’t do that,† I said. â€Å"It is not an issue of whether it is possible,† the Consu said. It leaned its bulk over and then addressed Dock. â€Å"Would the Obin here kill themselves if this human asked it?† â€Å"Without doubt,† Dock said. â€Å"They would not hesitate,† the Consu said. â€Å"No,† Dock said. The Consu turned back to me. â€Å"Then all you need to do is give the order.† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"Don’t be stupid, human,† the Consu said. â€Å"You have been assured by me that I will assist you. You have been assured by this Obin that your pets here will gladly sacrifice themselves for your benefit, without delay or complaint. You will be assured of helping your family and friends survive imminent attack. And you have done it before. You thought nothing of sending hundred to their death to speak to me. It should not be a difficult decision now.† He waved again toward the floor. â€Å"Tell me honestly, human. Look at your pets, and then look at the Consu. Do you think your pets will be the ones left standing when this is over? Do you want to risk the safety of your friends and family on them? â€Å"I offer you an alternative. It carries no risk. It costs you nothing but your assent. Your pets will not object. They will be happy to do this for you. Simply say that you require this of them. That you demand it of them. And if it makes you feel any better, you can tell them to turn off their consciousness before they kill themselves. Then they will not fear their sacrifice. They will simply do it. They will do it for you. They will do it for what you are to them.† I considered what the Consu had said. I turned to Dock. â€Å"You have no doubt that those Obin would do this for me,† I said. â€Å"There is no doubt,† Dock said. â€Å"They are there to fight at your request, Zoe. They know they may die. They have already accepted that possibility, just as the Obin who sacrificed themselves to bring you this Consu knew what was required of them.† â€Å"And what about you,† I said to Hickory. â€Å"Your friend and partner is down there, Hickory. For ten years, at least, you’ve spent your life with Dickory. What do you say?† Hickory’s trembling was so slight that I almost doubted that I saw it. â€Å"Dickory will do as you ask, Zoe,† Hickory said. â€Å"You should know this already.† It turned away after that. I looked at General Gau. â€Å"I have no advice to offer you,† he said. â€Å"But I am very interested to find out what you choose.† I closed my eyes and I thought of my family. Of John and Jane. Of Savitri, who traveled to a new world with us. I thought of Gretchen and Magdy and the future they could have together. I thought of Enzo and his family and everything that was taken from them. I thought of Roanoke, my home. And I knew what I had to do. I opened my eyes. â€Å"The choice is obvious,† the Consu said. I looked at the Consu and nodded. â€Å"I think you’re right,† I said. â€Å"And I think I need to go down and tell them.† I walked to the door of the operations room. As I did, General Gau lightly took my arm. â€Å"Think about what you’re doing, Zoe,† Gau said. â€Å"Your choice here matters.† I looked up at the general. â€Å"I know it does,† I said. â€Å"And it’s my choice to make.† The general let go of my arm. â€Å"Do what you have to do,† he said. â€Å"Thank you,† I said. â€Å"I think I will.† I left the room and for the next minute tried very hard not to fall down the stairs as I walked down them. I’m happy to say I succeeded. But it was a close thing. I walked toward the group of Obin, who were milling about, some doing exercises, some talking quietly to another or to a small group. As I got closer I tried to locate Dickory and could not. There were too many Obin, and Dickory wasn’t somewhere I could easily see him. Eventually the Obin noticed I was walking to them. They quieted and equally quietly formed ranks. I stood there in front of them for a few seconds, trying to see each of the Obin for itself, and not just one of a hundred. I opened my mouth to speak. Nothing would come. My mouth was so dry I could not make words. I closed my mouth, swallowed a couple of times, and tried again. â€Å"You know who I am,† I said. â€Å"I’m pretty sure about that. I only know one of you personally, and I’m sorry about that. I wish I could have known each of you, before you were asked†¦before I asked†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I stopped. I was saying stupid things. It wasn’t what I wanted to do. Not now. â€Å"Look,† I said. â€Å"I’m going to tell you some things, and I can’t promise it’s going to make any kind of sense. But I need to say them to you before†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I gestured at the cargo bay. â€Å"Before all of this.† The Obin all looked at me, whether politely or patiently, I can’t say. â€Å"You know why you’re here,† I said. â€Å"You’re here to fight those Consu over there because I want to try to protect my family and friends on Roanoke. You were told that if you could beat the Consu, I would get the help I needed. But something’s changed.† I pointed up to the operations room. â€Å"There’s a Consu up there,† I said, â€Å"who tells me that he’ll give me what I need to save Roanoke without having to have you fight, and risk losing. All I have to do is tell you to take those knives you were going to use on those Consu, and use them on yourselves. All I have to do is to tell you to kill yourselves. Everyone tells me you’ll do it, because of what I am to you. â€Å"And they’re right. I’m pretty sure about that, too. I’m certain that if I asked all of you to kill yourselves, you would do it. Because I am your Zoe. Because you’ve seen me all your lives in the recordings that Hickory and Dickory have made. Because I’m standing here in front of you now, asking you to do it. â€Å"I know you would do this for me. You would.† I stopped for a minute, tried to focus. And then I faced something I’d spent a long time avoiding. My own past. I raised my head again and looked directly at the Obin. â€Å"When I was five, I lived on a space station. Covell. I lived there with my father. One day while he was away from the station for a few days on business, the station was attacked. First by the Rraey. They attacked, and they came in and they rounded up all the people who lived on the station, and they began to kill us. I remember†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I closed my eyes again. â€Å"I remember husbands being taken from their wives and then shot in the halls where everyone could hear,† I said. â€Å"I remember parents begging the Rraey to spare their children. I remember being pushed behind a stranger when the woman who was watching me, the mother of a friend, was taken away. She tried to push away her daughter, too, but she held on to her mother and they were both taken away. If the Rraey had continued much longer, eventually they would have found me and killed me too.† I opened my eyes. â€Å"But then the Obin attacked the station, to take it from the Rraey, who weren’t prepared for another fight. And when they cleared the station of the Rraey, they took those of us humans who were left and put us in a common area. I remember being there, with no one looking after me. My father was gone. My friend and her mother were dead. I was alone. â€Å"The space station was a science station, so the Obin looked through the research and they found my father’s work. His work on consciousness. And they wanted him to work for them. So they came back to us in the common area and they called out my father’s name. But he wasn’t on the station. They called his name again and I answered. I said I was his daughter and that he would come for me soon. â€Å"I remember the Obin talking among themselves then, and then telling me to come away. And I remember saying no, because I didn’t want to leave the other humans. And I remember what one of the Obin said to me then. It said, ‘You must come with us. You have been chosen, and you will be safe.’ â€Å"And I remembered everything that had just happened. And I think even at five years old some part of me knew what would happen to the rest of the people at Covell. And here was the Obin, telling me I would be safe. Because I had been chosen. And I remember taking the Obin’s hand, being led away and looking back at the humans who were left. And then they were gone. I never saw them again. â€Å"But I lived,† I said. â€Å"Not because of who I was; I was just this little girl. But because of what I was: the daughter of the man who could give you consciousness. It was the first time that what I was mattered more than who I was. But it wasn’t the last.† I looked up at the operations room, trying to see if those in there were listening to me, and wondering what they were thinking. Wondering what Hickory was thinking. And General Gau. I turned back to the Obin. â€Å"What I am still matters more than who I am,† I said. â€Å"It matters more right now. Right this minute. Because of what I am, hundreds of you died to bring just one Consu to see me. Because of what I am, if I ask you to take those knives and plunge them into your bodies, you will do it. Because of what I am. Because of what I have been to you.† I shook my head and looked down at the ground. â€Å"All my life I have accepted that what I am matters,† I said. â€Å"That I had to work with it. Make accommodations for it. Sometimes I thought I could manipulate it, although I just found out the price for that belief. Sometimes I would even fight against it. But never once did I think that I could leave what I was behind. Because I remembered what it got me. How it saved me. I never even thought of giving it up.† I pointed up at the operations room. â€Å"There is a Consu in that operations room who wants me to kill you all, just to show him that I can. He wants me to do it to make a point to me, too – that when it comes down to it, I’m willing to sacrifice all of you to get what I want. Because when it comes down to it, you don’t matter. You’re just something I can use, a means to an end, a tool for another purpose. He wants me to kill you to rub my face in the fact I don’t care. â€Å"And he’s right.† I looked into the faces of the Obin. â€Å"I don’t know any of you, except for one,† I said. â€Å"I won’t remember what any of you look like in a few days, no matter what happens here. On the other hand all the people I love and care for I can see as soon as I close my eyes. Their faces are so clear to me. Like they are here with me. Because they are. I carry them inside me. Like you carry those you care for inside of you. â€Å"The Consu is right that it would be easy to ask you to sacrifice yourselves for me. To tell you to do it so I can save my family and my friends. He’s right because I know you would do it without a second thought. You would be happy to do it because it would make me happy – because what I am matters to you. He knows that knowing this will make me feel less guilty for asking you. â€Å"And he’s right again. He’s right about me. I admit it. And I’m sorry.† I stopped again, and took another moment to pull myself together. I wiped my face. This was going to be the hard part. â€Å"The Consu is right,† I said. â€Å"But he doesn’t know the one thing about me that matters right now. And that it is that I am tired of being what I am. I am tired of having been chosen. I don’t want to be the one you sacrifice yourself for, because of whose daughter I am or because you accept that I can make demands of you. I don’t want that from you. And I don’t want you to die for me. â€Å"So forget it. Forget all of this. I release you of your obligation to me. Of any obligation to me. Thank you for volunteering, but you shouldn’t have to fight for me. I shouldn’t have asked. â€Å"You have already done so much for me. You have brought me here so I could deliver a message to General Gau. He’s told me about the plans against Roanoke. It should be enough for us to defend ourselves. I can’t ask you for anything else. I certainly can’t ask you to fight these Consu and possibly die. I want you to live instead. â€Å"I am done being what I am. From now on I’m just who I am. And who I am is Zoe. Just Zoe. Someone who has no claim on you. Who doesn’t require or demand anything from you. And who wants you to be able to make your own choices, not have them made for you. Especially not by me. â€Å"And that’s all I have to say.† The Obin stood in front of me, silently, and after a minute I realized that I didn’t really know why I was expecting a response. And then for a crazy moment I wondered if they actually even understood me. Hickory and Dickory spoke my language, and I just assumed all the other Obin would, too. That was a pretty arrogant assumption, I realized. So I sort of nodded and turned to go, back up to the operations room, where God only knew what I was going to say to that Consu. And then I heard singing. A single voice, from somewhere in the middle of the pack of Obin. It took up the first words of â€Å"Delhi Morning.† And though that was the part I always sang, I had no trouble recognizing the voice. It was Dickory. I turned and faced the Obin just as a second voice took up the counterpoint, and then another voice came in, and another and another, and soon all one hundred of the Obin were singing, creating a version of the song that was so unlike any I had heard before, so magnificent, that all I could do was stand there and soak in it, let it wash around me, and let it move through me. It was one of those moments that you just can’t describe. So I won’t try anymore. But I can say I was impressed. These Obin would have known of â€Å"Delhi Morning† for only a few weeks. For them to not only know the song but to perform it flawlessly was nothing short of amazing. I had to get these guys for the next hootenanny. When it was done, all I could do was put my hands to my face and say â€Å"Thank you† to the Obin. And then Dickory came through the ranks to stand in front of me. â€Å"Hey, you,† I said to Dickory. â€Å"Zoe Boutin-Perry,† said Dickory. â€Å"I am Dickory.† I almost said, I know that, but Dickory kept speaking. â€Å"I have known you since you were a child,† it said. â€Å"I have watched you grow and learn and experience life, and through you have learned to experience life myself. I have always known what you are. I tell you truthfully that it is who you are that has mattered to me, and always has. â€Å"It is to you, Zoe Boutin-Perry, that I offer to fight for your family and for Roanoke. I do this not because you have demanded it or required it but because I care for you, and always have. You would honor me if you would accept my assistance.† Dickory bowed, which was a very interesting thing on an Obin. Here was irony: This was the most I had heard Dickory say, ever, and I couldn’t think of anything to say in return. So I just said, â€Å"Thank you, Dickory. I accept.† Dickory bowed again and returned to ranks. Another Obin stepped forward and stood before me. â€Å"I am Strike,† it said. â€Å"We have not met before. I have watched you grow through all that Hickory and Dickory have shared with all Obin. I too have always known what you are. What I have learned from you, however, comes from who you are. It is an honor to have met you. It will be an honor to fight for you, your family, and for Roanoke. I offer my assistance to you, Zoe Boutin-Perry, freely and without reservation.† Strike bowed. â€Å"Thank you, Strike,† I said. â€Å"I accept.† And then I impulsively hugged Strike. It actually squeaked in surprise. We unhugged, Strike bowed again, and then returned to ranks just as another Obin came forward. And another. And another. It took a long time to hear each greeting and offer of assistance, and to accept each offer. I can honestly say there was never time better spent. When it was done I stood in front of one hundred Obin again – this time, each a friend. And I bowed my head to them and wished them well, and told them I would see them after. Then I headed back toward the operations room. General Gau was at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for me. â€Å"I have a position for you on my staff, Zoe, if you ever want it,† he said. I laughed. â€Å"I just want to go home, General. Thank you all the same.† â€Å"Some other time, then,† Gau said. â€Å"Now I’m going to preside over this contest. I will be impartial when I’m observing it. But you should know that inside I’m rooting for the Obin. And that’s something I never thought I would say.† â€Å"I do appreciate it,† I said, and headed up the stairs. Hickory met me at the door. â€Å"You did what I hoped you would do,† Hickory said. â€Å"I regret not volunteering myself.† â€Å"I don’t,† I said, and hugged Hickory. Dock bowed to me; I nodded back. And then I approached the Consu. â€Å"You have my answer,† I said. â€Å"So I have,† the Consu said. â€Å"And it surprises me, human.† â€Å"Good,† I said. â€Å"And the name is Zoe. Zoe Boutin-Perry.† â€Å"Indeed,† the Consu said. He sounded amused at my cheekiness. â€Å"I will remember the name. And have others remember it as well. Although if your Obin do not win this contest, I do not imagine we will have to remember your name for long.† â€Å"You’ll remember it for a long time,† I said. â€Å"Because my friends down there are about to clean your clock.† And they did. It wasn’t even close. How to cite Zoe’s Tale PART III Chapter Twenty-Four, Essay examples

Robot Pets Versus Real Pets. for and Against Essay Example

Robot Pets Versus Real Pets. for and Against Essay Robot pets versus real pets. For and against Since thousand years human keep animals in his house. They shared him food, house and he spent his time to take care of them. In the modern age the technology entered human life. One of new invention was robot which becomes surrogate to pets. Robot does not need to special place to live and it does not need to medical care, but it cannot give people the benefits which real pets can give them to human. The following paragraphs will discuss using robot pets as an alternative of real pets. Robot pets take the place of real pets in human life. That carries many advantages to modern people. First of all, robot does not need much time to clean its body and its place like real pets. Secondly, real pets are main source of infection with diseases when there was not enough of medical care. Finally, robot does not perceive by the environment surrounding, but real pets become sick and die. On the other hand using robot as pets has many negative side effects. First human cannot learn from robot pets, but real pets can teach him to take responsibility and take him unconditional love. Second real pets playing role to assistant of persons who suffer from physical disabilities, but robot pets do that in narrow range. Lastly real pets encourage elderly to live actively because keep of animal mean new life. Although the needs of real pets food, place , health care and spend time to care by cleaning, however, that much less to offer the benefits of these animals , they learn human love, and to help him to live better life. I think that it could not to be replacement real pets with robot pets. We will write a custom essay sample on Robot Pets Versus Real Pets. for and Against specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Robot Pets Versus Real Pets. for and Against specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Robot Pets Versus Real Pets. for and Against specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer