Library System Essay Example for Free

Library System Essay 2. When the computer introduced to the people before, some of them doubt the efficacy and some just ignored it. The computer is one of the products of the technology. Nowadays the technology has always new innovation to cope up with the people’s everyday activities. Today we used the computer as part of our daily activities to support our needs for the computation purposes, communications, recording transactions and other things that we will need the computer’s help. Having this machine make our work efficiently and effectively, this make our work faster and less time of doing manual routines just to have an output for our work. Now, Information management is the systems and techniques involved in effectively compiling and manipulating useful data. These is used for all the systems for providing an accuracy and recording data in order for easy reviewing and retrieval. In the field of academe, The Library Information System is in need with these for them to have a reliable and accurate data. Table of Content Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Project Context. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Purpose and Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Scope and Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5 Review of Related Literature/system . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8 Technical Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 List of Figures, List of Tables, List of Notations . . . 9-12 Introduction Schools set the various pedagogical changes to achieve the current level of education in our country. Because of the growing numbers of computer users, this became an effective medium to demonstrate the knowledge and skills of the students. From the traditional searching process for the books in the libraries, the interactive usage of computers can be now addressed as part of the library system. Project Context The system will be more helpful the university’s library. This will be more efficient in doing the task in a specific time. The system will be used by the librarian for inventory, recording and other purposes for keeping the information in the library. For them to keep track of their records. The system will interact to the accounting system of the university, for payment purposes of the borrowed books that have a penalty for not returned in a given period. The users of this system will interact to this system by scanning the barcode of the books for inventory and borrowing. Encoding of the description of the books for newly acquired books, and the cataloging of the books. 1 Purpose and Description UNC-LIS is the automation of all data and transactions within the library, it will handle all the information’s and data in the library of the university. The UNL-LIS is an application that allows for the retrieval of metadata of books available in a library data store. The user allows using barcode scanner for inventory the library assets and borrowing of books for easy retrieval of datas. A UNC-LIS for a university keeps track of all unreturned books and periodicals in the library and their check-out status. Checkout and return are automated through a bar code scanner (an external device). The library system also interfaces with an external relational database which stores information about the library users (students and stuff), including whether they have any library items checked out. . Library users can access the catalog and recall books and periodicals. As well as additional capabilities the system can easily generate reports such as listing of unreturned books, borrowed books, students that secured library card and listing of current books.

Macro Management Scheme in NEMO Environment

Macro Management Scheme in NEMO Environment An enhanced Macro Management Scheme in NEMO Environment to Achieve Seamless Handoff Qoutibah AlAssi 1. Abstract In NEMO(NETWORK MOBILITY) and when they are connected to the Internet through mobile or even laptops and during the move from one place to another process occurs disconnect this process its output practically at the point of contact with SMR within the network NEMO have changed any that HA(HOME AGENT) was Mtaatsal with SMR in the network and moved ha to another area and want SMR in other network to communicate with ha and thus the transformation of the SMR to SMR Other. During the handoff process that leads to the loss of Internet connection and thus can not ha sending and receiving the packet data and this leads to a loss of packet data and delay during normal time. And wont to shows that proposed scheme outperforms the standard NEMO BSP in terms of packet loss (packet loss less than 6%) COA: CARE OF ADDRESS. BU MESSAGE: BINDING UPDATE. RO : ROUTER OPTIMIZATION. MBB: MAKE-BEFORE-BREAK. MNN: MOBILE NETWORK NODES. LMA : LOCAL MOBILITY ANCHORS. LMD : LOCAL MOBILITY DOMAIN. LFN : LOCAL FIXED NODE. 2. Introduction: In NEMO BSP and during cutting and re-connect only Coa in SMR is capable of recording HA, which affects the process of completing handoff in terms of packet loos and the delay One solution that will be shown off here is the use of macro mobility mangement scheme for NEMO network, which integrates improved fhmipv6 with the mobile network This leads to speed handoff mechanism for SMR handoff with LFN in NEMO network There are two well known mechanisms in internet mobility to reduce the handoff delay are classified into host mobility HMIPV6, FMIPV6, HMIPV6)as well as the network mobility(NEMO BSP)[1-3]. According to host mobility , the main purpose of HMIPv6 is [4] to decrease the frequency and latency of location updates caused by MNs mobility where as the FMIPv6[5] can reduce the handover latency and packet loss during handover of MN through providing all the necessary information of next AR for layer 3 handover before going to the part of its subnet. Due to further reduce signaling overhead and packet loss, it is possible to use HMIPv6 and FMIPv6 jointly known as FHMIPv6 [6]. If these mechanisms are combined in NEMO environment then mobile. Node (MN) and mobile router(MR) performs different IP layer handoff. Hence it is needed to apply some mechanisms which are able to adapt improved FHMIPv6[7] in order to achieve uninterrupted internet connection during handoff for mobile routers with its nods in NEMO network [8]. As an extension of NEMO BSP, in this research some NEMO based handoff schemes have been analyzed in terms of packet loss and handoff delay. This research structured as follows: firstly, evaluates some mobility management schemes to achieve seamless handoff in NEMO network . then the detailed operation of the proposed schemes discussed. After that, the performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated via network simulator (NS-2). 3. Research Problem: In NEMO and when they are connected to the Internet through mobile or even laptops and during the move from one place to another process occurs disconnect this process its output practically at the point of contact with SMR within the network NEMO have changed any that HA was Mtaatsal with SMR in the network and moved ha to another area and want SMR in other network to communicate with ha and thus the transformation of the SMR to SMR Other. During the handoff process that leads to the loss of Internet connection and thus can not ha sending and receiving the packet data and this leads to a loss of packet data and delay during normal time. And wont to shows that proposed scheme outperforms the standard NEMO BSP in terms of packet loss (packet loss less than 6%) 4. Literature Review: There are several extensions of NEMO Basic Support Protocol (NEMO BSP) in order to allow multihoming, nested mobile networking and the route optimization. The authors in paper [9], presents a new architecture and mechanism in order to optimize the routing mechanisms in nested mobile networks for NEMO basic support and the performance analysis of this new architecture is properly done for reducing the handoff latency. In accordance with the proposed mechanism, two types of Mobile Router (MR) are distinguished primarily. MRs which have direct access to the infrastructure via their egress interfaces, are denoted as TLMRs for Top Level MRs. All others mobile routers in the nested mobile network are denoted as IMRs for Intermediate Mobile Routers. The proposed solution is achieved by adding functionality to the Mobile Nodes/ Mobile Routers (MN/MR) and Home Agents (HA). A new one-bit field R is added to the Router Advertisement (RA) messages. This field is set to 1 by MR and inform other nodes that they are connected to a mobile/moving network. As soon as a MR connects to a new point of attachment and receives a new CoA, it starts advertisin g a RA message in its mobile network after setting the field R to 1. When a new MR visits this mobile network and receives a RA with the field R set to 1, it behaves as an IMR as shown in Figure 1. With the intention of providing information about the CoA of Mobile Nodes, a new â€Å"CoA option† is added to binding ppdate messages. Indeed except the new CoA option field, there is no additional message or overhead in this scheme. By applying this mechanism it is possible to avoid any ingress filtering mechanism. Additionally the home address of the BU message is added to the security policy, so that packets originated from this address can be forwarded. This solution minimizes the registration delay component of the overall handoff latency to some extent. However it is still an open issue for current researchers. Fig1: Mobility management in nested mobile network [9] In [10], explains an adaptive NEMO support protocol which formulates the use of the HMIPv6 and NEMO basic support protocols. Depending on the SMR in the adaptive NEMO support protocol, utilizes the adaptive BU strategy. This is the main feature differentiating a mobile network. When the SMR is low it is essential to decrease the number of BUs which is the main reason to use the adaptive BU whereas when the SMR is high then the number of tunneling is reduced. By using the adaptive mechanism, it is shown that the adaptive NEMO support protocol is scalable and works sound for different mobile environments as well as improves the performance because of low SMR as well. Hence, this technique is most significant for the NEMO networks. However, further research need to reduce implementation overhead in order to SMR measurement with security concern. In [11], explains the measurement of the performance of NEMO in a NEMO tested with explored the handoff performance and routing overheads in NEMO network. In addition, this paper also explained the non- optimized handoff performance of NEMO is not appropriate for the sensitive applications, like voice-over-IP since handoff delays. The handoff delay in NEMO BSP is up to 2.75 s. Moreover, it is also shown that routing overheads in NEMO BSP makes the use of scarce wireless network resources inefficiently. Therefore, to overcome the shortcomings of NEMO BSP, they propose a new handover scheme Make-Before-Break (MBB) handoffs to use multiple interfaces simultaneously as well as expanded OptiNets RO scheme. The advantages of the MBB handoffs is that it makes possible to take the advantage of high-speed of mobile router but has short range radio technologies except cooperating the service that it proposes to mobile network nodes (MNN). However, the possible limitation to use multiple interf aces in mobile devices, like an increase in power consumption, interference originated by the usage of multiple interfaces with increasing size and cost. But these limitations are only applicable for the mobile host. It does not give the restriction of using multiple interfaces on MRs for the do not limit the use of multiple interfaces on MRs to the similar level. Extended OptiNets RO scheme has increase performance to remove the packet overhead in NEMO BSP. Therefore it can be said that MBB handoff scheme with the extended OptiNets RO scheme improve the performance with highly sensitive application in terms of packet loss and delay. Moreover in [12], presents a modified fast-Integrated light-NEMO handoff scheme which combines the Modified Fast Integrated-Handover scheme and the Light- NEMO network model due to achieve a seamless handoff in nested mobile networks with analytical results. The advantages of this scheme are that it decrease the handoff delay as well as improve the service disruption time during the handoff. However, further improvement is needed to achieve seamless handoff completely by applying appropriate route optimization mechanism. In [13], presents a solution of route optimization based on multihoming mechanism in local mobility management framework named as multihoming-LRO. The proposed scheme gives the solution for optimized route as well as supports fast handover. Here, Multiple local mobility anchors(LMAs) requests for mobile node(MN) connecting to it with replacing information to each other within same local mobility Domain (LMD). In multihoming-LRO, it is possible for mobile router (MR) to connect to outside with having multiple mobile routers. When central link is not good in quality then MR can attach to secondary LMA earlier than primary link is stoppedthrough identifying the main LMA and secondary LMA as well as setting two threshold of link performance. If MR require then two links are able to provide concurrently to MR. when one link is not work well, then it is possible for MR to communicate with other node by the help of another link. Therefore, it is possible to improve robustness with providing self-recovery as well as smaller binding cache. Fast handover intra-LMD and inter-LMD can be performed easily through establishing new link before disconnecting old one. This scheme generates only one tunnel between the closest MR and it’s HA. Hence it can decrease the forward and reverse date path without registration with it’s HA again when MR moves inside LMD. As a result,signaling cost is reduced. Moreover, the control of nested-NEMO’s topo logy that is actively altered will be improved through moving the mobility management function to fix node from mobile node. In this scheme, no need to add signal cost when topology of the total nested-NEMO is modified with remaining MR in bone- network However, how to measuring link’s performance is still an active research area. 5. Research Objectives: Enhanced Macro Mobility Scheme: In order to minimize handoff delay as much as possible in NEMO network, this paper presents an enhanced Macro Mobility managementscheme in NEMO environment which can be identified as MM-NEMO scheme for further reduction of handoff delay. It is assumed that each MAP has MAP Information Table (MIT) that stores information of all neighboring MRs and it is possible to share the information with the neighboring MAP in order to choose the New MR (NMR). Additionally, after receiving Router Advertisement (RA) message, each MAP (CMAP, NMAP) will update the MIT as well [14]. The new LCoA and RCoA are created by CMAP in the place of the Serving MR (SMR) that shows that FBU message is not entailed for CMAP. Therefore, the FBU option is attached within the RtSolPr message as a replacement of the FBU message to perform handoff of the Serving MR with its Local Fixed Node (LFN) in order to accomplish the FBU in advance in NEMO environment. As a result, the CMAP can st art fast handoff while it receives RtSolPr from the SMR after L2 triggering. In the proposed scheme no new messages are required to be defined as the improved FHMIPv6 [7] is assumed to be integrated with mobile networks. Figure 2 illustrates the handoff operation of the proposed scheme and accordingly explained in details [15]: In the beginning, the SMR sends IRtSolPr message (with the I bit set as shown in Figure 3) to the CMAP through the CMR to allow the support of MM-NEMO. Since the I bit is set, then the CMAP will create a new LCoA and RCOA on behalf of the SMR. However, the SMR will follow NEMO BSP if I bit is not set. Once creating new LCoA, the CMAP sends the IPrRtAdv message to the SMR and also the handover Initiation (HI) message to the NMR which contains New LCOA (NLCOA). It can be seen that the SMR does not require to send the FBU to the CMAP. Rather it just needs to wait for the FLBAck message. The message format for IRtSolPr with FBU option is shown in Figure 3. Once the Handover Initiation (HI) message is sent to the NMR, the NMR executes Duplicate Address Detection (DAD) mechanism to confirm whether the new NLCoA is unique or not. If the address is not duplicated, the NMR sends the HAck message to the CMAP. After receiving the HAck message, the CMAP sends FLBAck message to the Serving MR to acknowledge the availability of the address. At the same time, Fast Local Binding Update (FLBU) is sent to NMAP that contains NRCoA for DAD operation to verify the SMR’s new RCOA. Concurrently, bi-directional tunnel is established between CMAP and NMR (which starts to buffer the packets sent to the SMR). After verifying the NRCoA, NMAP sends the FLBAck message to the SMR and BU message to it’s HA and CN consequently. Then layer 2 launchs handoff procedure and layer 3 connections will be cut. SMR sends FNA message to NMR when it arrives at NMAP domain. Subsequently, NMR transmits the buffered packet to the SMR. The SMR sends the Local Binding Update (LBU) message to NMAP after getting buffered packets from NMR. Simulation Approach: The simulation is carried out by the Network Simulator (NS2) [16] in order to determine the percentage of packet loss in the real scenarios. Packet loss has been used as performance metrics for proposed scheme. The parameters set in case of the simulated partof proposed scheme are: It is assumed, there are 4 SMRs and only 1 fixed Corresponding Node (CN), two Access Routers (e.g. NMR and CMR) which individually represent old connection (before handoff) and new connection (after handoff). The Serving MR’s moving speed is set to 5~60 Km/hr. The coverage area of the ARs (CMR, NMR) has been set to 200 Ãâ€" 200 m2. Fig. 2: Handoff procedure of Proposed Macro Mobility scheme [15] Fig. 3: FBU Option in Router Solicitation Proxy messag Fig. 4: Packet loss of the enhanced macro mobility scheme 6. References: Devarapalli, V., R. Wakikawa, A. Petrescu and P. Thubert, 2005. Network Mobility (NEMO) basicsupport protocol†, RFC 3963. Johnson, D.B., C.E. Parkins and J. Arkko, 2004. Mobility support in IPv6, RFC 3775. Perera, E., V. Sivaraman and A. Seneviratne, 2004. Survey on network mobility support, Mobile Computing and Communications Review. Soliman, H., C. Castelluccia, K. El Malki and L. Bellier, 2005. Hierarchical Mobile IPV6 Mobility Management (HMIPV6), RFC 4140, IETF. Koodli, R., et al., 2005. Fast Handover for Mobile IPV6, RFC 4068, IETF. Jung, H., et al., 2005. Fast Handover Support in Hierarchical Mobile IPV6, International Conference on Advanced Communication Technology. Chen-wen, W. and W. Ping, 2009. Improved Fast Handover scheme for Hierarchical Mobile IPv6, Proceedings of 4th International Conference on Computer Science and Education. Yoo, S., S. Choi and D. Su, 2009. Analysis of Fast Handover Mechanisms for Hierarchical MobileIPv6 Network Mobility, Wireless Pers Commun,48: 215-238. Sabeur, M., B. Jouaber and D. Zeghlache, 2005. MR-proxy based solution for Nested Mobile Network Problems, WPMC, Aalborg, Denmark. Pack, S., T. Kwon, Y. Choi and E. Park, 2009. An adaptive Network mobility support protocol inhierarchical mobile Ipv6 networks, IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, at 1-1, 2009 Petander, H., E. Perera, KC. Lan and A. Seneviratne, 2006. Measuring and improving the performance of network mobility management in ipv6 networks, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications,24(9): 1671-1681 Mohammed, B.A. and T. Wan, 2010. Modified Fast- Hua, L., L. Yuan-an and W. Qiu-tian, 2008. Fast handover and route optimization of multihoming based nested mobile networks, IEEE. Sheng, L., Y. Li Tsai, et al., 2010. An Efficient Fast Shayla Islam, A.H. Aisha-Hassan, M.K. Hasan,A.S. Rashid, O.O. Khalifa and O. Mahmoud, 2012.Macro Mobility Scheme in NEMO to support Seamless Handoff, International Conference on Computer and Communication Engineering 2012 (ICCCE2012), doi: 10.1109/ICCCE.2012.6271186. Kong, R., 2008. The Simulation for Network Mobility based on NS2, In International Conference on Computer Science and Software Engineering.

Advice On Wsh Legal Compliance Issues

Advice On Wsh Legal Compliance Issues The company is planning to set up a new plant/factory/shipyard/worksite in Singapore. The new plant/factory/shipyard/worksite located in Tuas. The company will be recruiting a few hundred local and foreign workers. The new plant/factory/shipyard/worksite utilizes the following items for its production processes: Mechanical and/or hydraulic machines Material handling equipment such as forklifts and/or reach trucks Lifting equipment such as overhead cranes and/or tower cranes Pressure vessels such as boilers, air receiver, steam receivers, etc. Laboratory facilities for testing and quality control Warehouses or storage yards Various types of hazardous chemicals and/or flammable substances Task: The task requires each candidate to submit a written report on advising on WSH legal compliance issues basing on the above situations. Written Report: The research project requires each candidate to derive or collect from their workplace a portfolio of evidences on the following items: Identify the relevant and other legal requirements applicable to safety and health issues. (PC1.1, UK1) Identify the WSH legal and other responsibilities and liabilities of stakeholders. (PC1.2, UK2) Explain the WSH legal and other responsibilities and liabilities to relevant stakeholders. (PC1.3) Communicate with stakeholders on the implications of the WSH legal and other requirements in accordance with organizational procedures. (PC1.5, UK4) Gather workplace information and practices relevant for the assessment of compliance with WSH legal and other requirements. (PC2.1, UK5) Identify gaps between workplace practices and the applicable WSH legal and other requirements. (PC2.2) Recommend actions to be taken by the relevant stakeholders to comply with WSH legal and other requirements. (PC2.3, UK7) Advise relevant stakeholders in the application of relevant permits, licenses, approvals and other legal documents from respective government agencies. (PC2.4, UK6, 8) Advise stakeholders ways to assists them in maintaining compliance with applicable WSH legal and other requirements. (PC2.5, UK9) Identify means of getting updated on new or amended WSH legal and other requirements in a timely manner. (PC3.1, UK10) Interpret the new or amended WSH legal and other requirements accurately. (PC3.2) Clarify with the relevant authorities on the interpretation of new or amended legal and other requirements where applicable. (PC1.4, 3.3 UK3, 12) Determine the applicability of new or amended WSH legal and other requirements to stakeholders who seek advice on WSH legal requirements. (PC3.4) Assess workplace compliance with the new or amended WSH legal and other requirements. (PC3.5, UK11, 12) Advise on necessary actions needed to comply with new or amended WSH legal and other requirements. (PC3.6) Identify the relevant and other legal requirements applicable to safety and health issues. (PC1.1, UK1) 12. Clarify with the relevant authorities on the interpretation of new or amended legal and other requirements where applicable. (PC1.4, 3.3 UK3, 12) Government Agencies Acts and Legislations Area of Application (Eg. MOM, SCDF, NEA, etc.) (Provide list and titles of Acts and Regulations) (- Describe the application of each Act or Regulations. Also briefly explain what each of the Act and Regulations are about) MOM Workplace Safety And Health (Registration of Factories) Regulations 2008 Any organization/person who wants to occupy a piece of land or use any premises as a factory, falling within any of the classes of factories described in Part I or II of the First Schedule, shall apply to the Commissioner to register. The application (accompanied by particulars, information, statements and documents) to register the premise as a factory shall be sent to the Commissionerin such form and manner as he may require. The application has to be made at least one month before the factory starts operation. On receiving an application, the Commissioner will go through the details of application before deciding whether the premise is deem fit to be register as a factory. Upon successful application, the Commissioner will enter the factory in the register of factories and on successful payment of the fee specified in the Second Schedule, a certificate of registration will be issue to the applicant to certify the premise fit for operation. MOM WSH (General Provisions) Regulations 2006 This regulation is applicable to all factories and all owners of pressure vessel. This regulation describes the general safety rules and requirements which occupiers need to comply with. For instance, Regulation 4: Overcrowding, which require occupier to ensure that the workplace is not overcrowded so as to pose health and safety risk to the employees Regulation 6: Lighting, which require occupier to maintain and provide sufficient and suitable lighting, whether artificial or natural, for workers to engage in operation or walking. Regulation 10: Protection against excessive heat or cold and harmful radiations, which require the occupier take all reasonably practicable measures to ensure that employees at are protected from excessive heat or cold and harmful radiations. Regulation 14: Electrical installationand equipment, which require occupier to ensure that electrical installation and electrical equipment is of good made, non-faulty, well maintain and safe to use. Reasonably practicable measures have been taken by the occupier to protect against the risks of electric shock arising from or in connection with the use at work of any electrical installation or equipment in the factory. Etc. MOM WSH (First Aid) Regulations 2006 This regulation is applicable to all factories, laboratories, ship in harbour, premises within airport. This regulation describe what are the general requirements of a first aid box (what are the approved items, number of first aid boxes required against the number of employees), the requirements of first aider within the workplace, the number of first aider required within the workplace against the number of workers, and the general requirements for a first aid room. MOM WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 2006 This regulation is applicable to all workplaces covered under the First Schedule of the Act. This regulation specifies that risk an assessment has to be carried out at workplaces, with the RA documented and maintained. From the RA, what are the protective and control measures implemented to protect employees against the hazards and risks identified. MOM WSH (Incident Reporting) Regulations 2006 This regulation is applicable to all workplaces. This regulation requires occupier to report any accident/incident that result in injuries (injuries that resulting in more than 3 days MC or hospitalization for 1 day) and/or deaths, any dangerous occurrence (such as toppling of scaffold, toppling of tower crane, bursting of PUB gas pipe during excavation, etc.) and any occupational diseases suffered by an employee at the workplace. MOM WSH (Safety and Health Management System and Auditing) Regulations 2009 This regulation is applicable to all factories. This regulation describes: 1) The requirements to be approved as a workplace safety and health auditor. 2) The requirement of factories to undergo a third party audit (approved auditor by MOM) on the safety and health system. MOM WSH (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008 This regulation is applicable to all factories. This regulation requires factories to form a WSH committee (the general requirements stated), whereby meeting should be carried to discuss on the health and safety issues within the workplace. The function of WSH committee is also clearly defined under this regulation. SCDF Fire Safety Act Section 20: Fire Certificate This act is applicable to owner or occupier of any public buildings such as offices, hospitals, shopping complexes, industrial buildings and private residential buildings that fall within a specified criterion. The Fire Certificate Scheme is to ensure that fire safety systems and fire safety measures are properly maintained, in good working condition and tested in accordance with the relevant codes of practices. SCDF Fire Safety (Fire Emergency Plan) Regulations This regulation is applicable to premises that are designated or fall within the class of premises designated by the Minister under Section 21(1) of the Act. This regulation describe the requirements of a emergency response plan within the workplace, which include, designation of one or more places within or outside the premises which is capable of accommodating all the occupants of the premises and which poses the least danger to the occupants of the premises in the event of fire to be used as an assembly area; the need of a fire safety committee; up to date records relating to reviews of the Fire Emergency Plan; conduct of fire evacuation drills; fire safety programmes are kept and maintained, etc. SCDF Fire Safety (Petroleum and Flammable Materials) regulations: License to store or keep petroleum or flammable materials. This regulation is applicable to premises that require to store or keep any petroleum or flammable material or both at any premises shall be made by the person intending to store or keep the petroleum or flammable material or both. This regulation states that no occupier shall store or keep, or cause to be stored or kept, any class of petroleum or any flammable material except: (a) in or on premises licensed for the storage or keeping of such petroleum or flammable material; (b) in such quantities and in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in relation to such petroleum or flammable material; and (c) under the authority of and in accordance with the provisions of a licence from the Commissioner and every condition specified therein. SCDF Fire Safety (Petroleum and Flammable Materials) regulations: License to import petroleum or flammable materials. This regulation is applicable to occupier who wants to import of any class of petroleum or any flammable material in excess of the respective quantities specified in the Second Schedule. The regulations require the person importing such petroleum or flammable material to hold a licence from the Commissioner to import such petroleum or flammable material; and the person does not hold such a valid licence. Singapore Police Force Arms and Explosives (Explosive Precursors) Rules 2007: License to store explosive precursors. This regulation is applicable to occupier who wants to store explosive precursorsfor operation purposes. Singapore Police Force Arms and Explosives (Explosive Precursors) Rules 2007: Ad hoc license to import/export explosive precursors. This regulation is applicable to occupier who wants to import/export explosive precursors. The regulation requires the applicant to hold a dealers license before applying for a license to import or export arms or explosives. NEA Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 2009: Permission to store and use hazardous Substances. This regulation is applicable to a person who keeps or has in possession or under his control any hazardous substances specified in the Schedule. The regulation specify that the person shall be authorized to store and use hazardous substances under a permit or a license granted under section 22 of the Act to deal in hazardous substances under his possession. The person issued with the permit shall keep a record of the quantity of such substances and stored in a container based on the purpose or purposes stated in the permit. The container is designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the code of practice and clearly labeled with restricted access to authorized personnel only. HSA Poisons Act, Chapter 234: Poisons Licence This regulation is applicable to a person who import, possess for sale, sell or offer for sale any poisons. Form A Poisons Licence is issued under the Poisons Act to allow the licensee to import, store and sell poisons by way of wholesale at the premises stated in the licence. The licensee for Form A Poisons Licence must be working full time for the company and be given the responsibilities and accountabilities for all poisons transactions. PUB Sewerage and Drainage (Trade Effluent) Regulations This regulation is applicable to factories. This regulation specifies the discharge limit and contents requirement of trade effluent that is coming out from the factories operation. The requirement of treating the trade effluent (installation of a treatment plant) before discharging the effluent and installing such sampling test points, inspection chambers, measuring devices, and recording and other apparatuses for monitoring. Identify the WSH legal and other responsibilities and liabilities of stakeholders. (PC1.2, UK2) Explain the WSH legal and other responsibilities and liabilities to relevant stakeholders. (PC1.3) Stakeholder (Organization Job position) Legal Responsibilities / Companys Job Description Liabilities Penalties / Offences List and identify at least FOURstakeholders in the company eg. Principal (WSH Manager); Subcontractor (ABC Construction Pte Ltd); Rigger (Tan Ah Seng); etc Describe and elaborate each stakeholder legal responsibilities as well as those set by the company in their job description. Elaborate the liabilities, penalties, and offences of each stakeholder as stipulated for the legislations) Occupier (Site Diector under the name Avnetis Pharma Mfg Pte Ltd) Legal responsibilities: It shall be the duty of every occupier of any workplace to take, so far as is reasonably practicable, such measures to ensure that a) the workplace; b) all means of access to or egress from the workplace; and c) any machinery, equipment, plant, article or substance kept on the workplace, are safe and without risks to health to every person within those premises, whether or not the person is at work or is an employee of the occupier. Company main HSE responsibilities: The Site Director has overall responsibility for the effective implementation of the HSE Policy. In compliance with the law, the Site Director shall: 1. Ensure the workplaces entrances and exits and any equipment, machinery, plant, article or substances are accessible, safe and risk-free. 2. Ensure the safety and health of his employees and personnel who may be indirectly affected in the workplace. WSH (General Provision) Regulations Fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both WSH (Registration of Factories) Regulations Fine not exceeding $3,000 WSH (Incident Reporting) Regulations 1stoffence: Fine of not exceeding $5,000 2ndand subsequent offences: Fine of not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 1stoffence: Fine of not exceeding $10,000 2ndand subsequent offences: Fine of not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both WSH (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations First offence: Fine of not exceeding $10,000 Second or subsequent offence: $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both WSH (Confined Spaces) Regulations Fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both WSH (Workplace Safety and Health Officers) Regulations First offence: $10,000 Continuing offence: a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction. Factories (Noise) Regulations Fines not exceeding $5,000 Fire Safety Act Fines not exceeding $5,000 Fire Safety (Building Fire Safety) Regulations Fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations Fine not exceeding $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both Continuing offence: a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for everyday or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction. Environmental Public Health Act Fine not exceeding $10,000 and in the case of a continuing offence, the sum of $500 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction Employers (HODs) 1) It shall be the duty of every employer to take, so far as is reasonably practicable, such measures as are necessary to ensure the safety and health of his employees at work. 2) It shall be the duty of every employer to take, so far as is reasonably practicable, such measures as are necessary to ensure the safety and health of persons (not being his employees) who may be affected by any undertaking carried on by him in the workplace. 3) For the purposes of subsection (1), the measures necessary to ensure the safety and health of persons at work include a) providing and maintaining for those persons a work environment which is safe, without risk to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work; b) ensuring that adequate safety measures are taken in respect of any machinery, equipment, plant, article or process used by those persons; c) ensuring that those persons are not exposed to hazards arising out of the arrangement, disposal, manipulation, organization, processing, storage, transport, working or use of things i) in their workplace; or ii) near their workplace and under the control of the employer; d) developing and implementing procedures for dealing with emergencies that may arise while those persons are at work; and e) ensuring that the person at work has adequate instruction, information, training and supervision as is necessary for that person to perform his work. 4) Every employer shall, where required by the regulations, give to persons (not being his employees) the prescribed information about such aspects of the way in which he conducts his undertaking as might affect their safety or health while those person are at his workplace. Company main HSE responsibilities: 1. Providing a safe and healthy workplace. 2. Establishing a committee or designating a representative as needed. 3. Consulting and cooperating with the committee or reperesntative. 4. Providing the information and training needed to protect the health and safety of workers. 5. Ensuring that supervisors are competent and that supervisors provide competent supervision. 6. Arranging the regular examination of the workplace, tools and equipment to ensure their safety. 7. Ensuring that tools, machinery and equipment are properly maintained. 8. Enabling a committee or representative to inspect the workplace regularly. 9. Promptly correcting unsafe conditions and activities reported by the committee or representative. 10. Ensuring that the committee or representative investigates reportable accidents and dangerous occurrences. WSH (General Provision) Regulations Fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both WSH (Incident Reporting) Regulations 1stoffence: Fine of not exceeding $5,000 2ndand subsequent offences: Fine of not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 1stoffence: Fine of not exceeding $10,000 2ndand subsequent offences: Fine of not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both WSH (Confined Spaces) Regulations Fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both Factories (Noise) Regulations Fines not exceeding $5,000 Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations Fine not exceeding $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both Continuing offence: a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for everyday or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction. Employees (Chemical Technician, Mechanical Technician, Logistic personnel, etc.) Legal responsibilities: 1) It shall be the duty of every person at work a) to use in such manner so as to provide the protection intended, any suitable appliance, protective clothing, convenience, equipment or other means or thing provided (whether for his use alone or for use by him in common with others) for securing his safety, health and welfare while at work; and b) to co-operate with his employer or principal and any other person to such extent as will enable his employer, principal or the other person, as the case may be, to comply with the provisions of this Act. 2) No person at work shall willfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse any appliance, protective clothing, convenience, equipment or other means or thing provided (whether for his use alone or for use by him in common with others) pursuant to any requirement under this Act for securing the safety, health or welfare of persons (including himself) at work. 3) Any person at work who, without reasonable cause, willfully or recklessly does any act which endangers the safety or health of himself or others shall be guilty of an offence. Company main HSE responsibilities: 1. Taking reasonable care to protect their health and safety and that of other workers. 2. Cooperating with employers, supervisors, committee members and representatives. 3. Using safe work procedures, safeguards, and personnel protective equipment. 4. Reporting potential hazards or risks to the employer immediately. 5. Knowing and complying with health and safety requirements. 6. Refraining form harassment. WSH (General Provision) Regulations Fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both WSH (Incident Reporting) Regulations 1stoffence: Fine of not exceeding $5,000 2ndand subsequent offences: Fine of not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 1stoffence: Fine of not exceeding $10,000 2ndand subsequent offences: Fine of not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both WSH (Confined Spaces) Regulations Fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations Fine not exceeding $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both Continuing offence: a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for everyday or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction. WSH (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations First offence: Fine of not exceeding $10,000 Second or subsequent offence: $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both Duties of persons who erect, install or modify machinery or equipment and persons in control of machinery for use at work. (company engage contractors) 1) It shall be the duty of any person who erects, installs or modifies any machinery or equipment for use at work to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the machinery or equipment is erected, installed or modified in such a manner that it is safe, and without risk to health, when properly used. 2) The duty imposed on a person erecting, installing or modifying any machinery or equipment under subsection (1) shall apply only if the machinery or equipment is erected, installed or modified in the course of the persons trade, business, profession or undertaking. 3) Any person required under subsection (1) to ensure that any machinery or equipment is erected, installed or modified in such a manner that it is safe, and without risk to health, when properly used shall be regarded as having complied with that subsection to the extent that a) the person ensured, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the erection, installation or modification was in accordance with the information supplied by the designer, manufacturer or supplier of the machinery or equipment regarding its erection, installation or modification; and b) it is reasonable for the person to rely on that information. 4) Where any machinery moved by mechanical power is used in any workplace, then notwithstanding anything in this Act, it shall be the duty of the owner of the machinery to ensure a) so far as is reasonably practicable, that the machinery is maintained in a safe condition; and b) that the precautions (if any) to be taken for the safe use of the machinery and the health hazards (if any) associated with the machinery is available to any person using the machinery. 5) Where the owner of any machinery moved by mechanical power has entered into a contract of hire or lease with a hirer or lessee, the duty imposed under subsection (4) shall apply to the hirer or lessee of the machinery instead of the owner. 6) Where the owner, hirer or lessee of any machinery moved by mechanical power has entered into a contract with another person to maintain the machinery, the duty under subsection (4)(a) shall apply to that other person instead of the owner, hirer or lessee of the machinery. 7) Subsections (1), (2) and (3) shall apply only to machinery or equipment specified in Part I of the Fifth Schedule. Company main HSE responsibilities: In compliance with the law, contractors shall: 1. Supply safety precautions to be taken for the proper use and maintenance of the machinery, equipment or hazardous substance. 2. Specify any health hazards associated with the machinery, equipment or hazardous substance. 3. Supply information relating to and the results of any tests or examinations of the machinery, equipment or hazardous substances is tested and examined to ensure safety when properly used. WSH (General Provision) Regulations Fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both WSH (Incident Reporting) Regulations 1stoffence: Fine of not exceeding $5,000 2ndand subsequent offences: Fine of not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 1stoffence: Fine of not exceeding $10,000 2ndand subsequent offences: Fine of not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both WSH (Confined Spaces) Regulations Fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations Fine not exceeding $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both Continuing offence: a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for everyday or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction. Communicate with stakeholders on the implications of the WSH legal and other requirements in accordance with organizational procedures. (PC1.5, UK4) (- List and describe THREE different types of communication channels employed in by your company. Show evident or data. Eg. Appendix à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Minimum 100 words) In workplaces, Safety communication is essential to employees so that they are aware of the effects of Workplace Safety and Health so as to seek encouragement from them to contribute actively to Workplace Safety and Health. Contributions from the employees will only be effective if they understood their roles and responsibilities and be competent in their work tasks. In Sanofi Aventis, the following communication channels are employed to pass on the information and messages to employees: E-mails: Whenever there is a safety-related issue and/or article send down by Corporate, the information will be forwarded to all HODs so that they can passed down the information to the staffs within their department. Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Notice Board: Whenever there is an incident/accident that has happened in other site within the corporate, a report of the incident/accident will be put up on the notice board to allow employees locally to learn of the issue so that the same situation will not be repeated. HSE Committee meeting: During the HSE committee meeting, issues on workplace health, safety and environment will be discussed, reviewed and ideas on how to improve them will be exchanged during the meeting. The discussions will be minute down and send to the committees so that they can pass down the information to other colleagues in their department. Gather workplace information and practices relevant for the assessment of compliance with WSH legal and other requirements. (PC2.1, UK5) Identify gaps between workplace practices and the applicable WSH legal and other requirements. (PC2.2) Recommend actions to be taken by the relevant stakeholders to comply with WSH legal and other requirements. (PC2.3, UK7) Name Description of Elements (SMS) or Practices (CP) Company Practices / Gaps Legal Requirements / Code of Practice Compliance Y / N Recommended Actions (- List at least FIVEpractices or Elements of Safety Management System. Briefly describe each practice or element. Eg. Permit-to-work, Safety Training, etc. Provide evidence such as examples, attachments, appendices, data, or documentation for

Essay on Women in A Dolls House and Tess of the DUrbervilles :: A Dolls House Essays

A Doll's House and Tess of the D'Urbervilles During the late nineteenth century, women were beginning to break out from the usual molds. Two authors from that time period wrote two separate but very similar pieces of literature. Henrik Ibsen wrote the play A Doll's House, and Thomas Hardy wrote Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Ibsen and Hardy both use the male characters to contrast with their female counterparts to illustrate how women are stronger by following their hearts instead of their minds. Ibsen uses Torvald, to depict a world where men choose to follow their minds in place of their hearts. Ibsen has Torvald believe that he is truly in love with his wife Nora. Torvald believes he will "risk my life's blood, and everything, for your sake."(63) The author sets the reader up to believe that Torvald is a chivalrous guy who would give life and limb to defend his true love, as the author believes that any real man would. Later in the play, a circumstance arises where he is given the opportunity to defend his wife. He does a 180 degree turn around and explains to his wife that "no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves."(71) The author shows the stupidity of Torvald with his misconception of honor. In actuality when a man sacrifices himself for the one he loves it brings him honor. Torvald is viewed as a true hypocrite. Torvald also believes the most important thing is to "save the . . . appearance."(65) He follows his mind, only interested in what is best for society. Ibsen illustrates him as a truly weak human. In contrast to Ibsen, Hardy takes an intellectually free thinker, Angel, who shows a very close minded perspective on events instead of opening himself to his true inner feelings. When Angel's bride reveals to him that she has committed the sin of pre-marital sex as did Angel, he begins to reveal to the reader his ignorance. In her sin, "forgiveness does not apply."(244) Angel's double standard shows the reader that sexism even existed in the free thinkers of the time period like Angel. He believed that his wife's sin was not "a question of respectability, but one of principle."(257) Hardy mocks Angel because he ironically believes himself free from the church, but in actuality his mind is a prisoner to their principles.

Why the Greeks Won the Greco-Persian War Essay -- Greco-Persian War Gr

Why the Greeks Won the Greco-Persian War There are times in history that something will happen and it will defy all logic. It was one of those times when a few Greek city/states joined together and defeated the invasion force of the massive Persian Empire. The Greeks were able to win the Greco-Persian War because of their naval victories over the Persians, a few key strategic victories on land, as well as the cause for which they were fighting. The naval victories were the most important contribution to the overall success against the Persians. The Persian fleet was protecting the land forces from being outflanked and after they were defeated the longer had that protection. While the Greeks had very few overall victories in battle they did have some strategic victories. The Battle of Thermopylae is an example of a strategic success for the Greeks. The morale of the Persian army was extremely affected by the stout resistance put up by King Leonidas and his fellow Spartans. The Greeks fought so hard against overwhelming odds because of what they were fighting for. They were fighting for their country and their freedom. They fought so hard because they did not want to let down the man next to them in the formation. Several things contributed to the Greeks success against the Persian invasion that happened during the Second Greco-Persian War. The main reason that the Greeks were able to win the Second Greco-Persian War was the fact that their victory on the sea dealt a crippling blow to the land army. The Greeks owe their naval success to a man named Themistocles. If it had not been for him then Athens would have not used some newly found silver to build 200 new ships for their navy. These ships were later used in the war against the Persians. The two forces were working in unison and they were dependent upon each other for victory. The Persian naval forces were there in order to protect the flank of the army's advance. If the Persian navy were not present then the Greeks would have been able to get on ships and sail to a spot behind the Persian lines and outflank them. They also delivered supplies to the armies that were necessary for its survival. The deathblow was dealt at the Battle of Salamis. It was a culmination of misfortune for the Persian navy. The Persians lost many ships to bad weather conditions. That is the only thing that allowed the G... ... This would put added pressure on the other man to make sure he doesn't look like a coward. The phalanx depended on every single individual in order to work right. The Greeks were able to repel the overwhelming and seemly unstoppable Persian Empire. They were able to do so because of the victories won thanks to the Athenian navy in the Aegean Sea, the hard fought and strategically important battles that the Spartans just would not give up during and they were able to put aside their differences in order to face the greater threat for the good or their culture. Each major city/state contributed what it was good at. It was a nice display of teamwork. Works Cited Herodotus. â€Å"Greece Saved from Persian Conquest.† Readings in Ancient History. Eds. Nels M. Bailkey and Richard Lim. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Herodotus. The History of Herodus. MIT. December 10, 2004 . Herodotus. â€Å"Greece Saved from Persiam Conquest.† Reading in Ancient History. Eds. Nels. Bailkey and Richard Lim. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Nagle, D. Brendan. â€Å"The Second Persian Invasion† The Ancient World; A social and Cultural History. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2002.

Food reflection Essay

1. Have you ever kept a food journal before? If so, why? I have done a food once when I was in high school. It was my sophomore year in health class. My teacher wanted us to learn about what kind of food we eat. So she made us do it for one weekend. She wanted us to share what we ate and how everyone ate differently. Some people ate healthier and some did not. She made us look at how much we ate and what she should do to eat healthier. 2. Did this food record make you more aware of what you were eating? Did it make you change your eating habits? Why or why not? This food record does make me more aware of what I am eating. Like for that certain day I ate more than the weekdays. On weekdays I would not have time to eat as much as I did because the weekdays I am busy with schoolwork. That day I was with friends during lunch but during dinner I was alone. I don’t think it will make me change my habit on eating. For me, I like to eat different things each day. I do not like to eat the same thing everyday. I like to change things up so I wont get tired of eating the same thing. This is why I feel like I do not need to change my habit because I do change everyday. This also showed me to eat other things. Like it showed that my vegetable and whole grains are low. Which means that I need to eat more things that have them in it than other food. 3. Did your food/drink intake indicate anything about what was going on in your daily life? No I do not feel like it indicates anything about what is going on in my daily life. Like going to the gym to run or walking around the park with friends. Some days when I am lazy, I would sit around and eat food all day long while watching TV. Then other days I would be out with people working and doing activities. I think the only thing the food report shows is the amount of food that is intake but does not show the other activities I do. The food report does not show if I were working at a job. Whether I would be sitting or standing all day. 4. What surprised you about your intake, if anything? One thing that surprised me in the food I ate was the amount of calories that are in some food. I never realized how much could be in one cup or a couple ounces. Usually I do look at the box where it has the calories and the food in it. While looking back at it, it seems as if the calories was not that important, the important thing is to look at the type of food that is in it. Like if there is any grains or meat or vegetable. I looked at the food report and it showed that my vegetables intakes are low. I thought I was fine with the vegetable but I guess I am not. 5. Was your eating pattern for this day usual? Why or why not? This was normal for my weekends. Like I know I can relax and eat as much as I want over the weekend than on the weekdays. On weekdays I am in class and out of class from 8AM to 2PM. If I were not in class I would be at work. So I do not have as much time to eat whatever I want or as much as I want. On a usually weekday, I would get a snack for the morning and then eat at 2 after all my classes are finished. On weekends I would typically eat more. Having a small meal in the morning and two big meals for lunch and dinner. 6. What changes will you make, if any, to your eating patterns after this assignment? Some changes as I said in some of the other questions are to eat more whole grains, eat more vegetables, and take in less refined grains and meat. I need to cut back on some meat because I know if I eat too much I will start to gain weight. While cutting back some of the food, I also need to start to go to the gym more often.

Bag of Bones CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I climbed the stairs to the deck instead of going around to the front door, still moving slowly and marvelling at how my legs felt twice their normal weight. When I stepped into the living room I looked around with the wide eyes of someone who has been away for a decade and returns to find everything just as he left it Bunter the moose on the wall, the Boston Globe on the couch, a compilation of Tough Stuff crossword puzzles on the end-table, the plate on the counter with the remains of my stir-fry still on it. Looking at these things brought the realization home full force I had gone for a walk, leaving all this normal light clutter behind, and had almost died instead. Had almost been murdered. I began to shake. I went into the north-wing bathroom, took off my wet clothes, and threw them into the tub splat. Then, still shaking, I turned and stared at myself in the mirror over the washbasin. I looked like someone who has been on the losing side in a barroom brawl. One bicep bore a long, clotting gash. A blackish-purple bruise was unfurling what looked like shadowy wings on my left collarbone. There was a bloody furrow on my neck and behind my ear, where the lovely Rogette had caught me with the stone in her ring. I took my shaving mirror and used it to check the back of my head. ‘Can't you get that through your thick skull?' my mother used to shout at me and Sid when we were kids, and now I thanked God that Ma had apparently been right about the thickness factor, at least in my case. The spot where Devore had struck me with his cane looked like the cone of a recently extinct volcano. Whitmore's bull's-eye had left a red wound that would need stitches if I wanted to avoid a scar. Blood, rusty and thin, stained the nape of my neck all around the hairline. God knew how much had flowed out of that unpleasant-looking red mouth and been washed away by the lake. I poured hydrogen peroxide into my cupped palm, steeled myself, and slapped it onto the gash back there like aftershave. The bite was monstrous, and I had to tighten my lips to keep from crying out. When the pain started to fade a little, I soaked cotton balls with more peroxide and cleaned my other wounds. I showered, threw on a tee-shirt and a pair of jeans, then went into the hall to phone the County Sheriff. There was no need for directory assistance; the Castle Rock P.D. and County Sheriff's numbers were on the IN CASE OF EMERGENCY card thumbtacked to the bulletin board, along with numbers for the fire department, the ambulance service, and the 900-number where you could get three answers to that day's Times crossword puzzle for a buck-fifty. I dialed the first three numbers fast, then began to slow down. I got as far as 955-960 before stopping altogether. I stood there in the hall with the phone pressed against my ear, visualizing another headline, this one not in the decorous Times but the rowdy New York Post. NOVELIST TO AGING COMPU-KING: ‘YOU BIG BULLY!' Along with side-by-side pictures of me, looking roughly my age, and Max Devore, looking roughly a hundred and six. The Post would have great fun telling its readers how Devore (along with his companion, an elderly lady who might weigh ninety pounds soaking wet) had lumped up a novelist half his age a guy who looked, in his photograph, at least, reasonably trim and fit. The phone got tired of holding only six of the required seven numbers in its rudimentary brain, double-clicked, and dumped me back to an open line. I took the handset away from my ear, stared at it for a moment, and then set it gently back down in its cradle. I'm not a sissy about the sometimes whimsical, sometimes hateful attention of the press, but I'm wary, as I would be around a bad-tempered fur-bearing mammal. America has turned the people who entertain it into weird high-class whores, and the media jeers at any ‘celeb' who dares complain about his or her treatment. ‘Quitcha bitchin!' cry the newspapers and the TV gossip shows (the tone is one of mingled triumph and indignation). ‘Didja really think we paid ya the big bucks just to sing a song or swing a Louisville Slugger? Wrong, asshole! We pay so we can be amazed when you do it well whatever â€Å"it† happens to be in your particular case and also because it's gratifying when you fuck up. The truth is you're supplies. If you cease to be amusing, we can always kill you and eat you.' They can't really eat you, of course. They can print pictures of you with your shirt off and say you're running to fat, they can talk about how much you drink or how many pills you take or snicker about the night you pulled some starlet onto your lap at Spago and tried to stick your tongue in her ear, but they can't really eat you. So it wasn't the thought of the Post calling me a crybaby or being a part of Jay Leno's opening monologue that made me put the phone down; it was the realization that I had no proof. No one had seen us. And, I realized, finding an alibi for himself and his personal assistant would be the easiest thing in the world for Max Devore. There was one other thing, too, the capper: imagining the County Sheriff sending out George Footman, aka daddy, to take my statement on how the mean man had knocked li'l Mikey into the lake. How the three of them would laugh later about that! I called John Storrow instead, wanting him to tell me I was doing the right thing, the only thing that made any sense. Wanting him to remind me that only desperate men were driven to such desperate lengths (I would ignore, at least for the time being, how the two of them had laughed, as if they were having the time of their lives), and that nothing had changed in regard to Ki Devore her grandfather's custody case still sucked bogwater. I got John's recording machine at home and left a message just call Mike Noonan, no emergency, but feel free to call late. Then I tried his office, mindful of the scripture according to John Grisham: young lawyers work until they drop. I listened to the firm's recording machine, then followed instructions and punched STO on my phone keypad, the first three letters of John's last name. There was a click and he came on the line another recorded version, unfortunately. ‘Hi, this is John Storrow. I've gone up to Philly for the weekend to see my mom and dad. I'll be in the office on Monday; for the rest of the week, I'll be out on business. From Tuesday to Friday you'll probably have the most luck trying to reach me at . . . ‘ The number he gave began 207-955, which meant Castle Rock. I imagined it was the hotel where he'd stayed before, the nice one up on the View. ‘Mike Noonan,' I said. ‘Call me when you can. I left a message on your apartment machine, too.' I went in the kitchen to get a beer, then only stood there in front of the refrigerator, playing with the magnets. Whoremaster, he'd called me. Say there, whoremaster, where's your whore? A minute later he had offered to save my soul. Quite funny, really. Like an alcoholic offering to take care of your liquor cabinet. He spoke of you with what I think was genuine affection, Mattie had said. Your great-grandfather and his great-grandfather shit in the same pit. I left the fridge with all the beer still safe inside, went back to the phone, and called Mattie. ‘Hi,' said another obviously recorded voice. I was on a roll. ‘It's me, but either I'm out or not able to come to the phone right this minute. Leave a message, okay?' A pause, the mike rustling, a distant whisper, and then Kyra, so loud she almost blew my ear off: ‘Leave a HAPPY message!' What followed was laughter from both of them, cut off by the beep. ‘Hi, Mattie, it's Mike Noonan,' I said. ‘I just wanted ‘ I don't know how I would have finished that thought, and I didn't have to. There was a click and then Mattie herself said, ‘Hello, Mike.' There was such a difference between this dreary, defeated-sounding voice and the cheerful one on the tape that for a moment I was silenced. Then I asked her what was wrong. ‘Nothing,' she said, then began to cry. ‘Everything. I lost my job. Lindy fired me.' Firing wasn't what Lindy had called it, of course. She'd called it ‘belt-tightening,' but it was firing, all right, and I knew that if I looked into the funding of the Four Lakes Consolidated Library, I would discover that one of the chief supporters over the years had been Mr. Max Devore. And he'd continue to be one of the chief supporters . . . if, that was, Lindy Briggs played ball. ‘We shouldn't have talked where she could see us doing it,' I said, knowing I could have stayed away from the library completely and Mattie would be just as gone. ‘And we probably should have seen this coming.' ‘John Storrow did see it.' She was still crying, but making an effort to get it under control. ‘He said Max Devore would probably want to make sure I was as deep in the corner as he could push me, come the custody hearing. He said Devore would want to make sure I answered â€Å"I'm unemployed, Your Honor† when the judge asked where I worked. I told John Mrs. Briggs would never do anything so low, especially to a girl who'd given such a brilliant talk on Melville's â€Å"Bartleby.† Do you know what he told me?' ‘No.' ‘He said, â€Å"You're very young.† I thought that was a patronizing thing to say, but he was right, wasn't he?' ‘Mattie ‘ ‘What am I going to do, Mike? What am I going to do?' The panic-rat had moved on down to Wasp Hill Road, it sounded like. I thought, quite coldly: Why not become my mistress? Your title will be ‘research assistant,' a perfectly jake occupation as far as the IRS is concerned, I'll throw in clothes, a couple of charge cards, a house say goodbye to the rustbucket doublewide on Wasp Hill Road and a two-week vacation: how does February on Maui sound? Plus Ki's education, of course, and a hefty cash bonus at the end of the year. I'll be considerate, too. Considerate and discreet. Once or twice a week, and never until your little girl is fast asleep. All you have to do is say yes and give me a key. All you have to do is slide over when I slide in. All you have to do is let me do what I want all through the dark, all through the night, let me touch where I want to touch, let me do what I want to do, never say no, never say stop. I closed my eyes. ‘Mike? Are you there?' ‘Sure,' I said. I touched the throbbing gash at the back of my head and winced. ‘You're going to do just fine, Mattie. You ‘ ‘The trailer's not paid for!' she nearly wailed. ‘I have two overdue phone bills and they're threatening to cut off the service! There's something wrong with the Jeep's transmission, and the rear axle, as well! I can pay for Ki's last week of Vacation Bible School, I guess Mrs. Briggs gave me three weeks' pay in lieu of notice but how will I buy her shoes? She outgrows everything so fast . . . there's holes in all her shorts and most of her g-g-goddam underwear . . . ‘ She was starting to weep again. ‘I'm going to take care of you until you get back on your feet,' I said. ‘No, I can't let ‘ ‘You can. And for Kyra's sake, you will. Later on, if you still want to, you can pay me back. We'll keep tabs on every dollar and dime, if you like. But I'm going to take care of you.' And you'll never take off your clothes when I'm with you. That's a promise, and I'm going to keep it. ‘Mike, you don't have to do this.' ‘Maybe, maybe not. But I am going to do it. You just try and stop me.' I'd called meaning to tell her what had happened to me giving her the humorous version but that now seemed like the worst idea in the world. ‘This custody thing is going to be over before you know it, and if you can't find anyone brave enough to put you to work down here once it is, I'll find someone up in Derry who'll do it. Besides, tell me the truth aren't you starting to feel that it might be time for a change of scenery?' She managed a scrap of a laugh. ‘I guess you could say that.' ‘Heard from John today?' ‘Actually, yes. He's visiting his parents in Philadelphia but he gave me the number there. I called him.' He'd said he was taken with her. Perhaps she was taken with him, as well. I told myself the thorny little tug I felt across my emotions at the idea was only my imagination. Tried to tell myself that, anyway. ‘What did he say about you losing your job the way you did?' ‘The same things you said. But he didn't make me feel safe. You do. I don't know why.' I did. I was an older man, and that is our chief attraction to young women: we make them feel safe. ‘He's coming up again Tuesday morning. I said I'd have lunch with him.' Smoothly, not a tremor or hesitation in my voice, I said: ‘Maybe I could join you.' Mattie's own voice warmed at the suggestion; her ready acceptance made me feel paradoxically guilty. ‘That would be great! Why don't I call him and suggest that you both come over here? I could barbecue again. Maybe I'll keep Ki home from VBS and make it a foursome. She's hoping you'll read her another story. She really enjoyed that.' ‘That sounds great,' I said, and meant it. Adding Kyra made it all seem more natural, less of an intrusion on my part. Also less like a date on theirs. John could not be accused of taking an unethical interest in his client. In the end he'd probably thank me. ‘I believe Ki might be ready to move on to â€Å"Hansel and Gretel.† How are you, Mattie? All right?' ‘Much better than I was before you called.' ‘Good. Things are going to be all right.' ‘Promise me.' ‘I think I just did.' There was a slight pause. ‘Are you all right, Mike? You sound a little . . . I don't know . . . a little strange.' ‘I'm okay,' I said, and I was, for someone who had been pretty sure he was drowning less than an hour ago. ‘Can I ask you one question before I go? Because this is driving me crazy.' ‘Of course.' ‘The night we had dinner, you said Devore told you his great-grandfather and mine knew each other. Pretty well, according to him.' ‘He said they shit in the same pit. I thought that was elegant.' ‘Did he say anything else? Think hard.' She did, but came up with nothing. I told her to call me if something about that conversation did occur to her, or if she got lonely or scared, or if she started to feel worried about anything. I didn't like to say too much, but I had already decided I'd have to have a frank talk with John about my latest adventure. It might be prudent to have the private detective from Lewiston George Kennedy, like the actor put a man or two on the TR to keep an eye on Mattie and Kyra. Max Devore was mad, just as my caretaker had said. I hadn't understood then, but I did now. Any time I started to doubt, all I had to do was touch the back of my head. I returned to the fridge and once more forgot to open it. My hands went to the magnets instead and again began moving them around, watching as words formed, broke apart, evolved. It was a peculiar kind of writing . . . but it was writing. I could tell by the way I was starting to trance out. That half-hypnotized stare is one you cultivate until you can switch it on and off at will . . . at least you can when things are going well. The intuitive part of the mind unlocks itself when you begin work and rises to a height of about six feet (maybe ten on good days). Once there, it simply hovers, sending black-magic messages and bright pictures. For the balance of the day that part is locked to the rest of the machinery and goes pretty much forgotten . . . except on certain occasions when it comes loose on its own and you trance out unexpectedly, your mind making associations which have nothing to do with rational thought and glaring with unexpected images. That is in some ways the strangest part of the creative process. The muses are ghosts, and sometimes they come uninvited. My house is haunted. Sara Laughs has always been haunted . . . you've stirred em up. stirred, I wrote on the refrigerator. But it didn't look right, so I made a circle of fruit and vegetable magnets around it. That was better, much. I stood there for a moment, hands crossed over my chest as I crossed them at my desk when I was stuck for a word or a phrase, then took off stirr and put on haunt, making haunted. ‘It's haunted in the circle,' I said, and barely heard the faint chime of Bunter's bell, as if in agreement. I took the letters off, and as I did found myself thinking how odd it was to have a lawyer named Romeo (romeo went in the circle) and a detective named George Kennedy. (george went up on the fridge) I wondered if Kennedy could help me with Andy Drake (drake on the fridge) maybe give me some insights. I'd never written about a private detective before and it's the little stuff (rake off, leave the d, add etails) that makes the difference. I turned a 3 on its back and put an I beneath it, making a pitchfork. The devil's in the details. From there I went somewhere else. I don't know where, exactly, because I was tranced out, that intuitive part of my mind up so high a search-party couldn't have found it. I stood in front of my fridge and played with the letters, spelling out little pieces of thought without even thinking about them. You mightn't believe such a thing is possible, but every writer knows it is. What brought me back was light splashing across the windows of the foyer. I looked up and saw the shape of a car pulling to a stop behind my Chevrolet. A cramp of terror seized my belly. That was a moment when I would have given everything I owned for a loaded gun. Because it was Footman. Had to be. Devore had called him when he and Whitmore got back to Warrington's, had told him Noonan refuses to be a good Martian so get over there and fix him. When the driver's door opened and the dome-light in the visitor's car came on, I breathed a conditional sigh of relief. I didn't know who it was, but it sure wasn't ‘daddy.' This fellow didn't look as if he could take care of a housefly with a rolled-up newspaper . . . although, I supposed, there were plenty of people who had made that same mistake about Jeffrey Dahmer. Above the fridge was a cluster of aerosol cans, all of them old and probably not ozone-friendly. I didn't know how Mrs. M. had missed them, but I was pleased she had. I took the first one my hand touched Black Flag, excellent choice thumbed off the cap, and stuck the can in the left front pocket of my jeans. Then I turned to the drawers on the right of the sink. The top one contained silverware. The second one held what Jo called ‘kitchenshit' everything from poultry thermometers to those gadgets you stick in corncobs so you don't burn your fingers off. The third one down held a generous selection of mismatched steak knives. I took one, put it in the right front pocket of my jeans, and went to the door. The man on my stoop jumped a little when I turned on the outside light, then blinked through the door at me like a nearsighted rabbit. He was about five-four, skinny, pale. He wore his hair cropped in the sort of cut known as a wiffle in my boyhood days. His eyes were brown. Guarding them was a pair of horn-rimmed glasses with greasy-looking lenses. His little hands hung at his sides. One held the handle of a flat leather case, the other a small white oblong. I didn't think it was my destiny to be killed by a man with a business card in one hand, so I opened the door. The guy smiled, the anxious sort of smile people always seem to wear in Woody Allen movies. He was wearing a Woody Allen outfit too, I saw faded plaid shirt a little too short at the wrists, chinos a little too baggy in the crotch. Someone must have told him about the resemblance, I thought. That's got to be it. ‘Mr. Noonan?' ‘Yes?' He handed me the card. NEXT CENTURY REAL ESTATE, it said in raised gold letters. Below this, in more modest black, was my visitor's name. ‘I'm Richard Osgood,' he said as if I couldn't read, and held out his hand. The American male's need to respond to that gesture in kind is deeply ingrained, but that night I resisted it. He held his little pink paw out a moment longer, then lowered it and wiped the palm nervously against his chinos. ‘I have a message for you. From Mr. Devore.' I waited. ‘May I come in?' ‘No,' I said. He took a step backward, wiped his hand on his pants again, and seemed to gather himself. ‘I hardly think there's any need to be rude, Mr. Noonan.' I wasn't being rude. If I'd wanted to be rude, I would have treated him to a faceful of roach-repellent. ‘Max Devore and his minder tried to drown me in the lake this evening. If my manners seem a little off to you, that's probably it.' Osgood's look of shock was real, I think. ‘You must be working too hard on your latest project, Mr. Noonan. Max Devore is going to be eighty-six on his next birthday if he makes it, which now seems to be in some doubt. Poor old fella can hardly even walk from his chair to his bed anymore. As for Rogette ‘ ‘I see your point,' I said. ‘In fact I saw it twenty minutes ago, without any help from you. I hardly believe it myself, and I was there. Give me whatever it is you have for me.' ‘Fine,' he said in a prissy little ‘all right, be that way' voice. He unzipped a pouch on the front of his leather bag and brought out a white envelope, business-sized and sealed. I took it, hoping Osgood couldn't sense how hard my heart was thumping. Devore moved pretty damned fast for a man who travelled with an oxygen tank. The question was, what kind of move was this? ‘Thanks,' I said, beginning to close the door. ‘I'd tip you the price of a drink, but I left my wallet on the dresser.' ‘Wait! You're supposed to read it and give me an answer.' I raised my eyebrows. ‘I don't know where Devore got the notion that he could order me around, but I have no intention of allowing his ideas to influence my behavior. Buzz off.' His lips turned down, creating deep dimples at the corners of his mouth, and all at once he didn't look like Woody Allen at all. He looked like a fifty-year-old real-estate broker who had sold his soul to the devil and now couldn't stand to see anyone yank the boss's forked tail. ‘Piece of friendly advice, Mr. Noonan you want to watch it. Max Devore is no man to fool around with.' ‘Luckily for me, I'm not fooling around.' I closed the door and stood in the foyer, holding the envelope and watching Mr. Next Century Real Estate. He looked pissed off and con-fused no one had given him the bum's rush just lately, I guessed. Maybe it would do him some good. Lend a little perspective to his life. Remind him that, Max Devore or no Max Devore, Richie Osgood would still never stand more than five-feet-seven. Even in cowboy boots. ‘Mr. Devore wants an answer!' he called through the closed door. ‘I'll phone,' I called back, then slowly raised my middle fingers in the double eagle I'd hoped to give Max and Rogette earlier. ‘In the meantime, perhaps you could convey this.' I almost expected him to take off his glasses and rub his eyes. He walked back to his car instead, tossed his case in, then followed it. I watched until he had backed up to the lane and I was sure he was gone. Then I went into the living room and opened the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of paper, faintly scented with the perfume my mother had worn when I was just a kid. White Shoulders, I think it's called. Across the top neat, ladylike, printed in slightly raised letters was ROGETTE D. WHITMORE Below it was this message, written in a slightly shaky feminine hand: 8.30 P.M. Dear Mr. Noonan, Max wishes me to convey how glad he was to meet you! I must echo that sentiment. You are a very amusing and entertaining fellow! We enjoyed your antics ever so much. Now to business. M. offers you a very simple deal: if you promise to cease asking questions about him, and if you promise to cease all legal maneuvering if you promise to let him rest in peace, so to speak then Mr. Devore promises to cease efforts to gain custody of his granddaughter. If this suits, you need only tell Mr. Osgood ‘I agree.' He will carry the message! Max hopes to return to California by private jet very soon he has business which can be put off no longer, although he has enjoyed his time here and has found you particularly interesting. He wants me to remind you that custody has its responsibilities, and urges you not to forget he said so. Rogette P.S. He reminds me that you didn't answer his question does her cunt suck? Max is quite curious on that point. R. I read this note over a second time, then a third. I started to put it on the table, then read it a fourth time. It was as if I couldn't get the sense of it. I had to restrain an urge to fly to the telephone and call Mattie at once. It's over, Mattie, I'd say. Taking your job and dunking me in the lake were the last two shots of the war. He's giving up. No. Not until I was absolutely sure. I called Warrington's instead, where I got my fourth answering machine of the night. Devore and Whitmore hadn't bothered with anything warm and fuzzy, either; a voice as cold as a motel ice-machine simply told me to leave my message at the sound of the beep. ‘It's Noonan,' I said. Before I could go any further there was a click as someone picked up. ‘Did you enjoy your swim?' Rogette Whitmore asked in a smoky, mocking voice. if I hadn't seen her in the flesh, I might have imagined a Barbara Stanwyck type at her most coldly attractive, coiled on a red velvet couch in a peach-silk dressing gown, telephone in one hand, ivory cigarette holder in the other. ‘If I'd caught up with you, Ms. Whitmore, I would have made you understand my feelings perfectly.' ‘Oooo,' she said. ‘My thighs are a-tingle.' ‘Please spare me the image of your thighs.' ‘Sticks and stones, Mr. Noonan,' she said. ‘To what do we owe the pleasure of your call?' ‘I sent Mr. Osgood away without a reply.' ‘Max thought you might. He said, â€Å"Our young whoremaster believes in the value of a personal response. You can tell that just looking at him.† ‘He gets the uglies when he loses, doesn't he?' ‘Mr. Devore doesn't lose.' Her voice dropped at least forty degrees and all the mocking good humor bailed out on the way down. ‘He may change his goals, but he doesn't lose. You were the one who looked like a loser tonight, Mr. Noonan, paddling around and yelling out there in the lake. You were scared, weren't you?' ‘Yes. Badly.' ‘You were right to be. I wonder if you know how lucky you are?' ‘May I tell you something?' ‘Of course, Mike may I call you Mike?' ‘Why don't you just stick with Mr. Noonan. Now are you listening?' ‘With bated breath.' ‘Your boss is old, he's nutty, and I suspect he's past the point where he could effectively manage a Yahtzee scorecard, let alone a custody suit. He was whipped a week ago.' ‘Do you have a point?' ‘As a matter of fact I do, so get it right: if either of you ever tries anything remotely like that again, I'll come after that old fuck and jam his snot-smeared oxygen mask so far up his ass he'll be able to aerate his lungs from the bottom. And if I see you on The Street, Ms. Whitmore, I'll use you for a shotput. Do you understand me?' I stopped, breathing hard, amazed and also rather disgusted with myself. If you had told me I'd had such a speech in me, I would have scoffed. After a long silence I said: ‘Ms. Whitmore? Still there?' ‘I'm here,' she said. I wanted her to be furious, but she actually sounded amused. ‘Who has the uglies now, Mr. Noonan?' ‘I do,' I said, ‘and don't you forget it, you rock-throwing bitch.' ‘What is your answer to Mr. Devore?' ‘We have a deal. I shut up, the lawyers shut up, he gets out of Mattie and Kyra's life. If, on the other hand, he continues to ‘ ‘I know, I know, you'll bore him and stroke him. I wonder how you'll feel about all this a week from now, you arrogant, stupid creature?' Before I could reply it was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that even at her best she still threw like a girl she was gone. I stood there with the telephone in my hand for a few seconds, then hung it up. Was it a trick? It felt like a trick, but at the same time it didn't. John needed to know about this. He hadn't left his parents' number on his answering machine, but Mattie had it. If I called her back, though, I'd be obligated to tell her what had just happened. It might be a good idea to put off any further calls until tomorrow. To sleep on it. I stuck my hand in my pocket and damned near impaled it on the steak knife hiding there. I'd forgotten all about it. I took it out, carried it back into the kitchen, and returned it to the drawer. Next I fished out the aerosol can, turned to put it back on top of the fridge with its elderly brothers, then stopped. Inside the circle of fruit and vegetable magnets was this: d go w 19n Had I done that myself?. Had I been so far into the zone, so tranced out, that I had put a mini-crossword on the refrigerator without remembering it? And if so, what did it mean? Maybe someone else put it up, I thought. One of my invisible roommates. ‘Go down 19n,' I said, reaching out and touching the letters. A compass heading? Or maybe it meant Go 19 Down. That suggested crosswords again. Sometimes in a puzzle you get a clue which reads simply See 19 Across or See 19 Down. If that was the meaning here, what puzzle was I supposed to check? ‘I could use a little help here,' I said, but there was no answer not from the astral plane, not from inside my own head. I finally got the can of beer I'd been promising myself and took it back to the sofa. I picked up my Tough Stuff crossword book and looked at the puzzle I was currently working. ‘Liquor Is Quicker,' it was called, and it was filled with the stupid puns which only crossword addicts find amusing. Tipsy actor? Marion Brandy. Tipsy southern novel? Tequila Mockingbird. Drives the DA to drink? Bourbon of proof. And the definition of Down was Oriental nurse, which every cruciverbalist in the universe knows is amah. Nothing in ‘Liquor Is Quicker' connected to what was going on in my life, at least that I could see. I thumbed through some of the other puzzles in the book, looking at 19 Downs. Marble worker's tool (chisel). CNN's favorite howler, 2 wds (wolfblitzer). Ethanol and dimethyl ether, e.g. (isomers). I tossed the book aside in disgust. Who said it had to be this particular crossword collection, anyway? There were probably fifty others in the house, four or five in the drawer of the very end-table on which my beer can stood. I leaned back on the sofa and closed my eyes. I always liked a whore . . . sometimes their place was on my face. This is where good pups and vile dogs may walk side-by-side. There's no town drunk here, we all take turns. This is where it happened. Ayuh. I fell asleep and woke up three hours later with a stiff neck and a terrible throb in the back of my head. Thunder was rumbling thickly far off in the White Mountains, and the house seemed very hot. When I got up from the couch, the backs of my thighs more or less peeled away from the fabric. I shuffled down to the north wing like an old, old man, looked at my wet clothes, thought about taking them into the laundry room, and then decided if I bent over that far, my head might explode. ‘You ghosts take care of it,' I muttered. ‘If you can change the pants and the underwear around on the whirligig, you can put my clothes in the hamper.' I took three Tylenol and went to bed. At some point I woke a second time and heard the phantom child sobbing. ‘Stop,' I told it. ‘Stop it, Ki, no one's going to take you anywhere. You're safe.' Then I went back to sleep again.