An Issue Pertaining to Business Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

An Issue Pertaining to Business Ethics - Essay Example Recent reports have shown that over 10 million men and women in England drink above the recommended guidelines. This obviously means that it will in all possible ways affect their body and mind in a negative way. The guidelines set to drinking have been set by the careful and thorough study of the intake of alcohol and those set limits are not meant to be crossed. These individuals in their practical life, therefore, perform lesser than their capability. It affects their performance, behavior, mental and stress level. They get tired easily and therefore are unable to work for even average work hours. It also causes a greater rate of absenteeism amongst individuals and a company cannot properly function with these conditions. Absent employees and the ones present not working at their best is something an organization should worry about. â€Å"By the principle of utility is meant that principle which approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever according to the tendency it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question† (Bentham, 1789). An individual’s actions inside the organization that he is working in, that directly affect the organization need to be paid attention and controlled. It’s for the benefit of everyone that every particular individual behaves in the most appropriate of ways, ways that are ethical. The health profession, in particular, primary care physicians, has long been encouraged to guide their patients’ drinking behavior (ICAP, 2002). Alcoholic behaviors of individuals is an important issue and require urgent attention, reports suggest that around 200,000 people go to work with a hangover. Alcohol also directly affects individuals work behavior. It is reported to promote rude behavior, non-serious attitude and in some cases violent behavior as well.  Ã‚  

The House Negro and the Field Negro Essay Example for Free

The House Negro and the Field Negro Essay There are two kinds of Negroes in the American society, according to Malcolm X. They are the subservient house Negro† and the subversive â€Å"field negro. † After making a detailed comparison between the two in the body of his speech, he categorically describes himself a â€Å"field negro† (X, Malcolm 1). Malcolm X is what he said he is as a field negro – a defiant black nationalist, with little regard, if at all, in the social institutions founded by white American masters, a representative of the mass of African Americans struggling to unfetter the chain that held the black people to slavery for over four centuries. Malcolm X was a man for his times, a man who witnessed in his youth the racial abuses of America’s white colonial rulers, a philosophical and religious thinker whose bold ideas and expressive rhetoric found acceptance among many African Americans who had long been subjected to racial abuse and debasement. He styled himself to represent the mass of American Africans, suited up in gentlemanly elegance to earn the respect and attention of his audience. Malcolm X delivered his speech in plain language no fancy words, no discombobulated phrases to distract his listeners. He went straight to the point and tackled issues with surgical competence and sharpness. He explained the term â€Å"house slaves† in plain and simple English, in a manner that all his audience could relate to, like the willingness of â€Å"house slaves† to pay three times the price of a house to be able to brag â€Å"I’m the only Negro out here† (Breitman 11). So the crowd roared in mock agreement. In like manner, he said a â€Å"field negro† represented the masses. He said â€Å"when the master got sick, the field Negro prayed that he’d die. † Nothing could be more graphic than that to illustrate a person’s contempt for another. Then, he said â€Å"I am a field Negro† (X, Malcolm 1) to show where he stood on the issue. He was a confident public speaker, gesturing like a true professional, like a brilliant pastor behind his pulpit. He knew his audience and made sure that he delivered the message that they wanted to hear and did it with aplomb as he underscored every sound bite that appealed to them. He was Master X behind the rostrum. His message reverberated across America with the same force and appeal that catapulted Martin Luther King Jr. into American consciousness. However, his message had none of the diplomacy and statesmanship presented by King. Malcolm X’s message was radical, uncompromising, violent, and sweeping – and should be better viewed and understood in the context of the era which bred his kind. He preached tit-for-tat as a principle of self-defense and belittled King’s calls for â€Å"civil disobedience† and â€Å"non-violence. † Malcolm X envisioned an entirely different route in his efforts to liberate the black people from slavery. His idea of freedom and liberation was for the establishment of a black republic within the United States or return of black people to their respective homelands in Africa, ideas that tended to divide rather than unite more African Americans. Moreover, he made more enemies than friends in the process of advancing these ideas in the forum of public opinion. Clearly, his ideas were more of a vindictive reaction to centuries of slavery, discrimination, and persecution in the hands of their American masters rather than a well-thought out plan to correct inequities which many well-meaning white Americans had along realized to be wrong and were willing to rectify. Malcolm’s ideas have more rhetoric than bites, more wishful thinking than real. His allegations of racism were directed to all white Americans, which maybe true but not that quite all encompassing. White American could likewise allege that Malcolm X was a racist for putting all white American together as abusive slave drivers. While some may practice racism, white Americans can claim that not everyone is racist, which is quite true. Malcolm X is a racist himself for his unforgiving tirades against white Americans. Racism is wrong no matter who practices it – black, white, yellow, or brown. As a Muslim convert, he cited the Koran, the Muslim bible, to preach the principle of â€Å"an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth† (Breitman 12). He said, â€Å"If someone lays his hand on you, send him to the cemetery† (Breitman 12). While he supported King’s civil rights movement in principle, he distanced himself from actively supporting the movement through King’s numerous sit-ins and other protest actions that reverberated across America and roused leaders from Washington D. C. to take notice and spur them to seriously consider the issues presented. The success of the civil rights movement was correctly attributed to King’s strategy of â€Å"civil disobedience† not sanctioned by X’s Muslim religion. If his plan to fight â€Å"tooth for tooth,† then the turn of events in the United States would have been different, with the black people being probably shot down for terrorism and mayhem. Then, that would have ended the black American’s struggle for liberty and independence. As if Malcolm X’s call to arms and racist statements were not enough, he called for the return of American Africans to their home countries and the establishment of a black republic within the United States which this writer believes could have altered the course of American history. He called for the establishment of a Pan African Republic to consolidate all black Americans in the United States. It was an outrageous proposal, but nevertheless it won support among the many members of the black community, particularly the young. It was primarily his forceful voice and the compelling drama that he managed to inject into his speeches that enthralled audiences. He was not the ambulant speaker that many of today’s so-called TV evangelists practice to appeal to TV viewers, strolling around the stage as they deliver their speeches. He was regal as he stood firm on the podium, cool and calculating, an authoritative figure that spoke in forceful cadence, his hand movements providing the beat from which his voice would follow in different speed, pitches and timbres. He spoke from memory and extemporaneously, reading his lines from the ohs and ahs of his audience, spending more time and adding more lines on issues that drew the most reaction from his audience. He appealed to his audience’s heart, telling them stories from everyday life and from classic books that chronicle their struggles as a people, like Uncle Tom’s Cabin. He described the â€Å"house negro† as Uncle Tom, outfitted in suit just like his master and happy to be in his company. He said there were more Uncle Toms in their midst as the crowd roared in agreement (Breitman 12). . But he assured his audience that there are more â€Å"field Negros† in their midst, all of whom were firm in their belief in freedom and independence for all black Americans. He told them they need to be firm and strong, that it was alright to defend one’s self from force and intimidation. To kill their enemies if and when necessary to uphold one’s identity (Breitman 12). . He said it was not alright to suffer in silence and invoked the Koran, the Muslim bible, as the source of his enlightenment. He appealed even to criminal elements to be prepared for a possible encounter against the whites. He told them to be in the forefront of the struggle and drew the loudest cheers. Malcolm X was the opposite of Dr. Luther King, who espoused peace. If King was a rebel, X was a revolutionary who hated white Americans, no matter who they were. They had only two similarities, or maybe three. They were both blacks, both supported civil rights and liberties, and both were fiery speakers and staunchly independent-minded. Later, they were both to die in assassin’s bullets. The speeches of Malcolm X were fiery from beginning to end – and his speech on the house and field Negros were no exception. At the end of his speech, he once again stoke the fire of what he claimed to be 400 years of slavery and discontent by a call to arms, urging all blacks not just in America but across the globe to rise in arms against white America. His speech was always laden with hate and bigotry, urging everyone to take arms in the guise of self-defense. His humor, while evident and indeed funny, was lost in the mood of his message, comical yet contemptuous. While his premises were sound, it appeared that his conclusion was not. This writer believes any call for violence is unjustified when the other party shows a sincere desire to listen and understand the concerns of the opposite camp. Malcolm X’s insistent calls to arms were valid only when white America refused to talk. When it expressed its desire to settle matters over a negotiating table, then Malcolm X’s revolutionary actuations were no longer valid and, therefore, inconsistent with our nature as rational human beings. Moreover, there was no need to draw a wedge between the home negro and the field negro if they were both willing to listen and understand what the other party has to say. So, what is wrong if the house negro is used by white America to sound out the field negro for a possible peace talk. To sustain peace in the United States, all parties involved in the conflict should discuss the issues in a civil manner, rather than fight over it in the battlefield. It was enough for Malcolm X to explain the distinction between the house Negro and the field Negro, but debasing one over the other was outright uncalled for, uncivil, and a threat to peace. The speech was far from neutral and simply being informative. It was racism seen from other end. It had Malcolm X’s signature all over it for his unequivocal posture over racism, self-hate, and community empowerment taken to an extreme that is too obtrusive for complacency and comfort. This former â€Å"ghetto youth† is a dangerous icon for today’s rebellious youth. Works Cited Answers.Malcolm X, Religious Figure / Civil Rights Figure. 2007. 24 September 2007 Breitman, George. Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements. 1990. Grove Press. Finkelman, Paul, ed. Malcolm X. MSN Encarta. 2007. 24 September 2007 Ursula Mctaggart, Ursula. The Oratory of Malcolm X. Solidarity National Office, Detroit, MI. 24 September 2007. X, Malcolm. The House Negro and the Field Negro. Speech by Malcolm X 4 February 1965. Iowa lakes Community College. http://www. iowalakes. edu/directories/faculty/burns/informative/Malcolm_X`s_House-Field_Negro_speech. htm/. X, Malcolm. Interview with A. B. Spellman and Malcolm X. Monthly Review. 16 May 1964. 24 September 2007 X, Malcolm. Transcript. The House Negro and the Field Negro. 4 February 1965. http://www. iowalakes. edu/directories/faculty/burns/informative/Malcolm_Xs_House-Field_Negro_speech. htm X, Malcolm. The House Negro and the Field Negro. Perf. Malcolm X. YouTube. 24 September 2007 ;. X, Malcolm. The Undiscovered Malcolm X: Stunning New Info on the Assassination, His Plans to Unite the Civil Rights and Black Nationalist Movements the 3 `Missing` Chapters From His Autobiography. Democracy Now! 21 Feb. 2005. 24 September 2007.

Cultural myths detrimental to american society today

Cultural myths detrimental to american society today A cultural myth is a traditional story that has a meaning attached to it. These myths have an effect in they way people lead their lives and even how they interact with each other. It is notable that myths have a role to play be it personally, or to the wider society. In as much as one may believe or doubt such myths, they still continue to exist in different ways, and are shaping destinies of many. Myths can be full of truth or falsehood and depend on the interpretation a person may prefer. Many societies and races in the world have diverse myths which may encourage or discourage certain patterns of behavior. Rituals and customs are explained in myths and their merits or demerits laid down for everyone to discern. The Greek mythology (Detienne, 18) is most notable especially in the way they exhort ancestors to be like gods. Myths came before science and this makes it impossible to discredit them. Long time ago, people depended on myths to explain the mysteries of creation and they accepted them with a lot of zeal. Many other questions were answered including the origin of man and his eventual destiny after death. Evil is also brought under the scrutiny of myths and they expound its cause and reason for its existence. The rise of modern civilization can too be traced in myths ranging from agriculture to industry to settled life in cities. The modern world has continued to embrace myths in one way or another. Modern technology has given rise to much development in mass media which in turn has enabled many myths from different parts of the world to be collected together for study. Books have been printed and availed to anybody with interest to read and either agree or disagree with the subject. From an individual to a community, some cultural myths seem worthy in the sense that they encourage or uplift the spirit (Wessels, 92). Others may not necessarily be so and may seem unrealistic especially if they are prejudicial or implying immorality. Happily Ever After; the American society as any other society has not been left behind in embracing myths. Many of them believe that happiness can be sought and achieved despite the hardship one may go through. Happiness is attributed to material possessions whereby those who do not have ample material wealth are considered unhappy. The ideology of possessions can be traced through ancient myths some of which are still followed today. Hard work is associated to prosperity and lack of it therefore leads to a lowly life. Studies have shown that happiness is not related to material or money possessions (Veenhoven, 5). The old notion which led many people to acquire as much as they could has been proven false. Traditionalists believed that it is out of what you possess that gives you the feeling of happiness. People then would strive so much in order to have money so that they may live the rest of their lives happily. In did not matter the means or the extent to which this was sought as long as one could proudly claim he had money. Americans forgot that happiness is never permanent and mostly is derived from being comfortable with what one has, however little. Obsession with possessions created greed in American people which can never be satisfied. Someone even came up with a term National Happiness, a system that oversaw people overlook other important issues in order to acquire happiness. Ironically, this myth has wrought greed, selfishness and immorality in the Americans (Alesina Tella, 3). The Nuclear Family has been a basis upon which nations are built. The nuclear family is composed of a father, mother and their children. This family set up has been criticized for a very long time due to its lack of universality, essence and modernity (Chester, 111). Industrialization brought out the need to move away to work places and obviously the nuclear family was affected. When the heads of the family began moving to far away places in search of job, there remained a question as to whether those left should still be considered as a nuclear family. The myth that every nuclear family should cater for itself has contributed negatively in its essence. Most Americans may prefer to be in such families in contrast that whole societies need to live together and cater for each other. Another aspect which makes the nuclear family fail is failure of it being universal. Since other societies in the world have extended families, the notion in Americans mind that only the nuclear family is perfect could be wrong. This is another cultural myth that has pulled back the Americans in their pursuits and has isolated them. The western culture took the nuclear family as a symbol and went ahead to portray it in art and media. But statistics show that there has been a decline in the number of nuclear families in the America over the past few years. Divorces and remarriages are common and therefore the true definition of a nuclear family has eroded. This goes on to show that the ideal nuclear family that was projected was just another cultural myth which has no place in modern society. It becomes a myth in the sense that sometimes ago; departure from this family set up was seen as immoral and unhealthy by many Americans (Uzoka, 34). Most Americans have shunned the extended family setup which encouraged communal responsibility, and have upheld nuclear families which promote individualism. The extended family comprises of the nuclear family and the relatives. This type of family is mostly concerned with building relationships which in turn play a role in the wide community. It is only when people begin to care for each other, the immediate community benefits as well as the whole country. It is therefore important that the Americans embrace extended family and break from their cultural myth of nuclear families. Racial Stereotyping There have always been contentious issues in regard to racial conflict existing between the whites and the blacks in America. The problem can be traced in the colonial times whereby black slavery was a norm. Blacks then were considered superstitious and primitive. Such a myth has seen them being oppressed for so many years that even now there exists a small percentage of whites who regard them so. They have also been associated with every negative aspect in society from crime, violence and laziness. An important fact to note is that, were it not for a tradition of viewing black negatively, they too are human and have all the abilities as white have. The cultural myths have engineered a trend that is difficult to deal with in modern society. Some instances where these myths have brought about are cases where people are discriminated according to their skin color. They are denied jobs and other government services just because of their skin color. A recent case during Hurricane Katrina where the government failed to act speedily is a case study for this. It attests to the fact that cultural myths still have a place in the modern society; albeit the American society ought to shun this evil (Palmer, 75). Americans have stereotyped many other races. The, Americans have stereotyped many other races and the most affected are the African-Americans. African -American simplification of individuals behavior is the African-American Stereotyping. They came about into the American culture from the period of colonial settlement, specifically after the collapse of Slave Trade. The minstrel of the earlier blackface illustrates blacks as ignorant, superstitious as well as naÃÆ'Â ¯ve in addition to been joyous which are the same characteristics which were associated with the slaves. Additionally the African-American have been stereotyped as a race which consists of people who are only good at sports. The act of stereotyping has got to its peak in the media through movies in addition to television. The media has contributed in passing negative information regarding the lifestyle of African-American to the young people. Certain shows aired on the T.V channels demonstrate the false personalities abo ut the African Americans. To make the matters worse, there is a specific video game which has been developed whose main character is an African American who plays only the role of killing, robbing alongside having sexual relations with persons. This indicates an example through which the media has been involved in stereotyping. It is because of these cultural myths that have behaved in negative ways towards each other. They have refused to move away from such myths ignoring the fact that such cause hatred amongst each other. Mark Twain analyses myths in a perfect way by showing in the characters the effect myths can have on people. The main themes of past, slavery, chivalry are expressed well in the book. Self-destruction and or preservation are another aspect that is brought about by the book. Hank Morgan is a prisoner who has traveled back in time to the sixth century and is sentenced to death before Arthurs court because of his strange dress and appearance. Before the execution is carried out, he is able to buy his freedom by convincing the Arthur that he is a magician. He relies on knowledge that a sun eclipse will take place before he is executed and he convinces the King that he is the cause of it. Hank is given the highest title in the land and he does not fail to ridicule the people who fear him. Morgan sooner learns about superstitions embraced by the natives and he capitalizes on his superior knowledge to outdo them. Through the magician Merlin, Hank is later discovered as a fake and people start to spread rumor about him. Using his wit he is able to outsmart Merlin again by calling fire from above. Hank uses his influence to bring about industrialization to that country and also set up schools. She becomes familiar with the territory he begins to understand the people and their way of life, which are still much in superstitions and myths, and even befriends a girl named Sandy. Hank outsmarts Merlin again in rebuilding a broken water fountain and thus retains power and respect. He convinces all present on his ability to summon the demons. Morgan has a way with the natives lives and together with the king he continues the hold of power. Sandy gives birth to a baby with Hank and upon the childs illness he is lured to leave the country thus leaving a gap in the countrys leadership. The King and Lancelot fight over Guinevere infidelity. The church provokes a revolt over Hank the people start a war. The story ends with the present day where Hank is found dreaming about his lover, Sandy, almost a millennium later. It is argued by some people that the book is an attack on Americans values which include materialism and technology. American sentimentalism about the past is also criticized (Twain Thompson). In conclusion myths, however good they might be still remain myths. In the modern society, we should be keen to understand the truths about life and work together towards a common goal. The real goal in our cultural diversity should be to see everybody gets food, clothing and shelter and that they can fit in every situation. Twain in his book looks in the effect myths have on our culture and day to day live. The mythic Arthur is associated with the past in contrast with Hank who symbolizes the present. The church is also brought into perspective and is seen as an evil and an enemy which conspires with political figures to oppress people. Slavery as another social menace should also be done away with. Slavery was embraced by many people in the past since they saw in it a way to get cheap labor and monetary gain. It becomes a cultural myth that Americans now should abolish. Magic is contrasted with reality in form of industrialization. People in the past relied on magic to achieve their needs but the book shows that such a myth can be done away with through use of technology. Industrialization should be a factor in civilization rather the magic of yesteryears. Many more achievements can be found by training people since human nature allows it. Training determines the behavior of a society unlike when people rely on myths. They are then able to differentiate between what is right and wrong (Umland Umland 25). Besides stereotyping being hurtful, it is wrong as well. Even though the stereotype can be correct in some occasions; relentlessly putting an individual down on the basis of predetermined perceptions cannot assist in motivating one to succeed. Stereotyping only gears people to lead lifestyles of hatred and in some situations stereotypes victims live in fear. It should be noted that all these myths have had a place in American society and some have tarnished its name. Americans should therefore move away from negative cultural myths, as discussed above, in order to continue as a nation. Above all, all other nations look towards America for guidance and support.

Jack London Essay -- essays research papers

Jack London was a prolific writer, one of the most widely read American writers of the early 20th century. During his short life, he wrote fifty books, plus many articles and short stories. Besides being one of the most widely read authors, he was also the highest-paid. However, Jack London did not spend all of his time writing. Besides being an author, he also was a gold prospector, a homeless, a pirate, a sailor, and a factory worker. London was determined to live an adventurous life: I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dryrot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time. (Parks and Recreation) This attitude fueled Jack London’s daring life. But his brash spirit eventually lead to his demise. London lived a short life, dying at age 40. He was known to be strikingly handsome and was a celebrity. His passionate writings were famous for his ideas on the struggle of survival and the questions of death. London’s novels were usually based on nature and adventure, coming from real life experiences, which appealed to millions of readers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jack London was born on January 12, 1876 in San Francisco, California. The relationship between his mother, Flora ...

A Biography of Indian Yellow Essay

Indian Yellow is a raw pigment which, as the name suggests, originated in India in the 17th century and was used until the early 20th century. Its source remained a mystery for many years. In 1786 the amateur painter, Roger Dewhurst recorded in letters to friends, that Indian yellow was an organic substance made from the urine of animals fed on turmeric (Myers, pg 1). Around this time, the English chemist George Field claimed it was made from camel urine. In 1839, J.F.L. Merimee, denied its association with urine in spite of its odor, citing its origin was a shrub called ‘memecylon tinctorium’ in his book ‘The Art of Painting in Oil and Fresco’, In 1886 the Journal of the Society of Arts in London began a systematic inquiry of the pigment, revealing that Indian yellow was manufactured in rural India (in particular in Monghyr, a city in Bengal) from the urine of cattle fed only on mango leaves and water (Finlay, pg 216-217). The collected urine was heated in order to precipitate the yellow matter, then strained, pressed into lumps by hand and dried, producing foul-smelling hard yellow balls of raw pigment, called ‘purree’ (Mukharji, pg 16-17). European importers would then wash and purify the balls, separating greenish and yellow phases. It is the mango not the urine that’s crucial to the color. The colorant is a magnesium salt of an organic acid released by the mango. Chemically it is magnesium euxanthate, the magnesium salt of euxanthic acid. See more: My Writing Process Essay Naturally, the cows that were exploited by this process were extremely undernourished. In part because mango leaves did not supply the cattle with sufficient nutrients along with the fact that these leaves contain the toxin urushiol, also found in poison ivy. In 1908, British law (which applied to colonized India) prohibited the production of Indian yellow, citing the torture of sacred animals. The pigment is believed to have first been used in Europe by Dutch artists in the 17th century (the Dutch having extensive trading links with India by then) and by the end of the 18th century across Europe in watercolor and oil painting. For the first years of its introduction in the European market, this pigment was simply named after its country of origin, ‘Purà ©e of India’(Finlay, pg 209-211). This was further simplified to ‘jaune indien’ (French), ‘giallo indiano’ (Italian), ‘Indischgelb’ (German) or ‘Indian Yellow’ when tr anslated into other languages (Myers, pg 1). Deep, clear and luminescent, it was favored for its great body and depth of tone. It had a peculiar characteristic in its watercolor form of fading in artificial light and in the dark but being fairly stable in direct sunlight. In its oil form, it requires one hundred percent for grinding, dries slowly, and the addition of varnish improves its drying, in fact its lightfastness is also improved when it is isolated between layers of varnish. Dutch and Flemish painters of the 17th and 18th centuries favored it for its translucent qualities often using it to represent sunlight. Beautiful as the color is, the pigment was said to be foul-smelling in its raw form. In the novel ‘Girl With the Pearl Earring’ Vermeer’s patron remarks that Vermeer used â€Å"cow piss† to paint his wife, the pigment referred to was Indian Yellow. By the early twentieth century the pigment was no longer available, although its modern substitutes are still sold under the name â€Å"Indian yellow†. Bibliography 1. Baer, N.S., â€Å"Indian Yellow† in â€Å"Artists’ Pigments, a Handbook of Their History and Characteristics†, Volume 1, R.L. Feller, Editor, Oxford University Press, New York (1986) 2. Finlay, Victoria, â€Å"Color: A NAtural History of the Palette† (2003 edition), Random House 3. Merimee, M.J.F.L., â€Å"The Art of Painting in Oil and Fresco† (2009 edition), Kessinger Publishing 4. Mukharji, T.N., â€Å"Piuri or Indian Yellow†, Journal of the Society of Arts (1883-84) 5. Myers, David, â€Å"Indian Yellow†, The Art Blog of David Myers (February 1, 2011) http://toxicgraphix.blogspot.com/2011/02/indian-yellow.html 6. â€Å"Indian Yellow†, Pigments Through the Ages, webexhibits.org http://www.webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/history/indianyellow.html

Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust Chapter 14-15

Chapter 14 My hands still in the air, I pressed my lips together. Id already learned that any sign of stress caused my fangs to bulge and my pupils to grow larger; I didnt want to prepare to attack until I knew what I was dealing with. â€Å"Jake? Charley?† a female voice called as two burly men ran toward me from the main house. Although twice my bulk, they were definitely human. Each man grabbed one of my arms, though I noted with cold calculation that it would take only one quick twist to shake both off before I lunged for my attack. But I fought with every core of my being to stay still, my hands high in the air, hoping Id just look like a common vagrant. There was no guarantee that a fight would lead to Damons rescue. A girl walked toward me from the porch and stopped a foot away. â€Å"I apologize,† I said to her. I tried to make my voice sound like I was nervously gasping for breath. â€Å"I didnt realize this was private property. Im new to town, and I was in the tavern, and, well † I trailed off, unsure of whether my lies would get me into even deeper trouble. â€Å"You thought youd steal from me?† The girl stepped forward. Her hair tumbled in flaming curls down her back, and she wore what looked suspiciously like a vervain wreath on her head. She had on a white nightdress, but she was wearing mens boots, and I could see calluses on her hands. Though she was clearly from a wealthy family, this was no coddled city girl. â€Å"No. No! I wasnt stealing, I was just looking for the vampire,† I said. She knit her eyebrows together. â€Å"To steal him ?† she asked leadingly, hands on her hips. â€Å"No!† I said again, my arm jerking involuntarily. One of the men holding me dropped my arm in surprise. â€Å"No,† I said again, forcing myself to remain still. â€Å"I saw the poster for the show down by the lake, and, well, I guess my curiosity got the best of me.† I shrugged. A rooster crowed. Sunlight slowly spilled over the backyard. I glanced down at my gleaming ring, thankful that Lexi had left. â€Å"Okay, then,† the girl said. She snapped her fingers, and the two large men dropped my arms. â€Å"If you are new to town, then where do you come from?† â€Å"Mys Mississippi,† I fibbed. â€Å"Right across the river.† She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it. â€Å"Well, welcome to New Orleans,† she said. â€Å"I dont know what things are like back in Mississippi, but you cant go sneaking into peoples backyards looking at their livestock. And the next time you may not meet someone as friendly as me.† I fought my urge to snort at her idea of friendliness, given my brothers wretched state. â€Å"So, whats your name, stranger?† â€Å"Stefan,† I said. â€Å"Are you Miss Gallagher?† â€Å"Smart,† she observed sarcastically. â€Å"That I am. Callie Gallagher.† One of the large men stepped toward her protectively. â€Å"Leave us,† she commanded. â€Å"Ill escort Mr. Stefan out.† â€Å"Thank you,† I said contritely as I followed her around the long gravel path, past the sun-room of the house, and toward the gate. â€Å"Thanks for trusting me,† I said. â€Å"Who says I trust you?† she asked sharply, but an amused smile flitted across her lips. â€Å"Well, then, perhaps I should thank you for not letting your brutes kill me.† She smiled again, wider this time. Her teeth were pearly white, and one of her front teeth was slightly crooked. Freckles dusted her upturned nose. She smelled sweet, like oranges. I realized it had been a long time since I had found a woman beautiful for more than the sweet smell of her blood. But cruelty lay behind her beauty, because this woman was responsible for my brothers imprisonment. â€Å"Maybe youre too handsome to be killed. And everyone deserves a little kindness, dont you think?† I gazed at her callused hands, a thought entering my mind. â€Å"Would it be too forward of me to ask for more of your kindness?† Callie narrowed her eyes. â€Å"Depends on what you ask for.† â€Å"A job,† I said, straightening my shoulders. The girl shook her head incredulously. â€Å"You want me to hire you? After you trespassed on my property?† â€Å"Think of it as an expression of my drive and my enthusiasm for freaks,† I said, the lies now floating easily from my tongue. â€Å"Being new, Ive had trouble finding work, and to be honest, Ive always wanted to be part of a circus.† She set her jaw, and I was worried shed suddenly call her henchmen on me. But then she looked up and down at my faded trousers and sighed. â€Å"I have a feeling Ill regret this, but come down to Lake Road tomorrow night. We do need a new ticket taker–our last one ran off with one of the fat ladies. Youll need to arrive early–and stay late. Its going to be busy tomorrow night because of the fight.† â€Å"Right. The fight,† I said, once again clenching my fists and biting back words of anger. â€Å"Yes.† She smiled somewhat ruefully. â€Å"Then youll have the chance to see your vampire in action.† â€Å"I suppose I will,† I said, turning on my heel and exiting the wrought-iron gate. But if I had my way, no one would see the â€Å"vampire in action† because Damon and I would be long gone before the fight ever commenced. Chapter 15 October 7, 1864 Something has changed. Maybe it is merely age, a sort of hyper-maturation into the role of an adult vampire. Maybe it is Lexi's tutelage. Or the fact that I am faced with an actual challenge, a death-defying challenge, and I simply know I can't expend my energy killing for sport. Whatever the cause, the result is the same. Though the scent of blood is still everywhere, I no longer feel compelled to hunt for sport. Hunting is distracting. My hunger is something to be sated quickly rather than enjoyably. Of course, the question is, how will I free Damon? Attack everyone in sight, creating a melee of destruction? Convince Callie to shed her vervain wreath so I can compel her to do my bidding? But Callie seems to have a power all her own. That much is clear to her henchmen, and to me. Of course, my Power is stronger. I have no doubt that I'll persevere. I'll save Damon, and then I'll reward myself with a drink from Callie's neck. I spent the entire day pacing my room, cutting a path through the dust that lined the wooden floor. Plans to free Damon flitted through my head one by one, but just as quickly as they came, I shot them down for being too daring, too risky, too destructive. Id already learned from the siege on the vampires in Mystic Falls that one false move can cause a domino effect of violence and despair. â€Å"You look like a caged animal,† Lexi said, appearing at my doorway. Her voice was light, but worry lines creased her forehead. I let out a low growl and raked my hands through my hair. â€Å"Ifeellike a caged animal.† â€Å"Have you thought of a plan yet?† â€Å"No!† I exhaled loudly. â€Å"And I dont even know why Im trying. He hates me.† I looked down, suddenly ashamed. â€Å"He blames me for turning him into what we are now.† Lexi sighed and closed the distance between us. She took my hand. â€Å"Follow me.† She led me out of the room and walked slowly down the stairs, running her pale fingers along the portraits that lined the walls. All the paintings were covered with a layer of grime. I wondered how long theyd been hanging on the walls, and whether any of the subjects still roamed the Earth–alive or undead. At the very bottom stair, Lexi stopped and pulled a portrait off the wall. It was newer than the others, with a gold frame and the glass polished to a gleam. A young, serious-looking blond boy stared out at me. His blue eyes contained a hint of sadness, and his cleft chin jutted in defiance. He looked incredibly familiar. My eyes widened. â€Å"Is that your–â€Å" â€Å"–brother,† Lexi said. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Is he † I trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence. â€Å"No, hes not with us anymore,† she said, tracing the cleft of the boys chin with her index finger. â€Å"How did he die?† I asked. â€Å"Does it matter?† she said, her voice sharp. â€Å"No, I suppose it doesnt.† I touched the edge of the photo. â€Å"Why do you keep it?† She sighed. â€Å"Its a connection to the past–to who I used to be before I was†Ã¢â‚¬â€œshe gestured down the length of her body–â€Å"before I becamethis. Its important not to lose that final thread of attachment to humanity.† Her gaze grew serious. I knew what she meant: Remaining connected to her humanity was how she maintained control and why she made the choice to feed only from animals. â€Å"So, are you ready to save him?† As usual, Lexi didnt wait for an answer, and I had to hustle out the door behind her. Together, we walked in silence toward Gallaghers place under the cover of the inky night. Fifteen minutes later we turned the corner onto Laurel Street and the house came into view. A tall man with salt-and-pepper hair was climbing the stairs of the white structure, tapping each step with a gold-tipped cane. Behind him were two black-suited men. The three were engaged in intense conversation. Lexi put her hand on mine. â€Å"Gallagher.† The men paused on the porch. â€Å"Im telling you, the vampire I have is the real thing. I could have him killed and sell you his blood. Youd make a fortune marketing it as the fountain of youth or an elixir of life,† Gallagher said roughly. My stomach plummeted. Damons body was being divided before he was even dead. â€Å"Blood,† a stocky man mused, rubbing his bald head as if it were a crystal ball. â€Å"Im just not sure people would try that. But how much would you sell the fangs for?† The men entered the home, shutting the wooden door with a definitive thud. I sniffed the air. The cloying scent of vervain burned my nose, but I didnt sense Damon anywhere. Lexi pushed the gates open and stepped onto the lawn. â€Å"What are you doing?† I hissed. â€Å"I dont think Damons here anymore.† â€Å"Yes, but you need to know exactly who and what youre up against. The more you know, the better you can gauge what the best course of action will be,† she said. I nodded, and together we stole in the shadows toward the main house. We ducked under a window ledge and knelt in order to escape notice; we could just make out the scene unfolding in the parlor at the back of the house. Gallaghers voice drifted through the open window as he took a seat in a maroon leather club chair, his feet up and a glass of port already in his hands. He wore a large gold ring on his finger. In the far corner, Callie Gallagher sat in a pair of weathered overalls and a white linen shirt. Her red hair fell down her back in a vervain-laced braid, and her head was bent as she pored over a ledger book. A garland of vervain was strung along the marble mantle, and I noticed a few vampire muzzles–the same sort that my father had used to subdue Katherine–tossed carelessly on an end table. â€Å"I have something else that might interest you,† Gallagher said, locking eyes with the elderly man while the other sat, silently. â€Å"I didnt want to bring it up out on the street.† â€Å"Yes?† The man leaned forward. His voice sounded disinterested, but he rubbed his stubby fingers together eagerly. â€Å"The monster wears a ring. Its an unusual one. Silver with a blue stone, but it seems to give him additional power. None of my men have been able to get it off his finger, but when hes dead â€Å" â€Å"Father!† Callie interjected. The two men stared at her. â€Å"Yes, girl?† Gallagher asked, his voice dangerously low. â€Å"Ive been looking over the books, and well make a fortune if hes kept alive. Its the best for the show.† Though her expression was all business, her tone didnt actually sound mercenary. â€Å"My boss.† Gallagher laughed ruefully, but from the way the vein in his temple throbbed, I could tell he didnt appreciate Callies interjection. â€Å"Girl, can you get us some brandy?† Callie stood up and stalked out of the room. I was surprised to feel a sliver of sympathy–and kinship–with her. I knew what it was like to have a headstrong father. Id wanted nothing more than to please him, but Giuseppe Salvatore always thought he knew best. I dared to disagree only once, and he killed me for it. â€Å"As I was saying, the ring † Gallagher said. I snapped back to attention. â€Å"You kill that monster and Ill buy it all. The fangs, the blood, the ring. Everything. And Ill give you a very good price,† the elderly man said in a trembling voice, barely concealing his excitement. Before I could pounce, shattering the glass that separated me from the man who was trying to sell my brother in bits and pieces, an iron-firm grip clasped my arms behind me and dragged me back out to the street. â€Å"Get a hold of yourself, Stefan!† Lexi hissed as she pulled me along the sidewalk. When she reached the corner of Laurel Street, she let me go. â€Å"That man is a sadist!† I fumed. â€Å"Hes a businessman. He wants to kill your brother, and if they find out about you, theyll certainly want to kill you too,† Lexi said, pushing her blond braid over her shoulder. My mind spun. â€Å"What about the girl?† I asked. Lexi snorted derisively. â€Å"What about her?† â€Å"She thinks Damon should be kept alive. Maybe she can convince her father of that,† I said desperately. â€Å"Dont even think about it. Shes a human, and she will follow her fathers orders until the end of her days,† Lexi said, dropping her voice to lower than a whisper as another couple walked toward us. As they passed, the man tipped his top hat, and Lexi curtseyed back. To anyone else, we were a young couple, out to romance each other in the moonlight. â€Å"Damons life is at stake,† I said in frustration. Lexi had offered to help, but everything shed done so far had seemed designed only to dissuade me. â€Å"We have to do something!† â€Å"I know you will find a way to save him,† she said firmly. We turned another corner and the spire of the church across from Lexis house came into view. â€Å"But Stefan, you must remember that controlling yourself around humans is much more than simply not attacking them.† When we reached the back porch, she stopped and put her hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look into her clear amber eyes. â€Å"Do you know the real reason why we dont drink human blood?† â€Å"Why?† I asked. â€Å"Because if we dont drink human blood, we dont need humans,† she said in a tight voice. She pushed open the door. Buxton, Hugo, and Percy were sitting around the coffee table, playing poker. They looked up when we entered, and Buxton narrowed his eyes at me. â€Å"Boys, were going dancing tonight. We need some lightness,† Lexi announced, pouring herself a glass of blood from the decanter on the side table. She glanced around the room. The three nodded. â€Å"Will you come, Stefan?† I shook my head. I was not in the mood for lightness. â€Å"No,† I said, then headed upstairs to plan Damons rescue alone.