Yeah, I know, I normally decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. It’s been one of those years.<\/p>\n
My cards aren’t done yet either. That’s tomorrow, I think.<\/p>\n
<><><><><><><><><><\/p>\n
Bang!<\/p>\n
The slamming of the front door jolted Drew from sleep. He lay there a moment longer, dazed, wondering what he\u2019d heard. Then heavy footsteps clomped across the front hall and up the stairs. Whoever it was, it wasn\u2019t the dainty Snow Queen.<\/p>\n
He slipped from the bed and padded in his bare feet across the room to the door. It was still early; the sun was barely above the horizon, and the long rays only reached half-way across the bedroom, so the area by the door was still in shadow. Drew flattened himself against the wall next to the door as the footsteps came closer to his room. It was very obvious that whoever was coming wasn\u2019t concerned about being sneaky.<\/p>\n
The door opened and the same man who had surprised him at the cabin stepped into the room, still dressed in furs. Drew frowned. What was he doing here? Why come back?<\/p>\n
\u201cGood, you\u2019re up,\u201d the man said, turning around and looking at him. \u201cGet dressed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d Drew asked. \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
The man\u2019s piercing blue eyes were cold, hard. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about that.\u201d His voice cut through the room like a winter wind. \u201cGet dressed. We\u2019re going for a walk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re the one I have to convince,\u201d Drew guessed. \u201cYou\u2019re the one who thinks that the humans shouldn\u2019t be out on the Roads.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man nodded, but didn\u2019t say anything. He just crossed his arms and waited.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine.\u201d Drew crossed back to the dresser that was on the other side of the bed. He looked over his shoulder. \u201cYou going to stay and watch me dress?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cModest, boy?\u201d the man snorted, but turned to leave. \u201cI\u2019ll meet you down in the front hall. Dress warm.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are we going?\u201d Drew asked, opening a drawer at random.<\/p>\n
\u201cOut,\u201d the man said, and left.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s informative,\u201d Drew grumbled, and went looking for his wool socks.<\/p>\n
<><><\/p>\n
\u201cSo, what did you find out?\u201d Molly asked, cradling her tea mug in her hand. She and Schrodinger were hanging out in the living room after eating breakfast. The CrossCat was curled up on one of his cat beds, taking a leisurely bath. Molly herself was still in her pajamas, sitting in her wing chair with one leg slung over the arm. It was quiet in the apartment, a waiting stillness that was somehow languid and enervating at the same time.<\/p>\n
Schrodinger didn\u2019t answer at first, concentrating on his right hind leg. Molly recognized the fact that he was collecting his thoughts, and wondered just where he had gone the day before. He hadn\u2019t come back until she\u2019d gotten home from the bookstore, and he\u2019d been tired; he had nearly fallen asleep in his bowl, and Molly had ended up carrying him into bed. So she waited, knowing he would tell her in his own time.<\/p>\n
I went to see the Librarian<\/em>, he said finally, finishing his bath. He jumped down from his bed and trotted over, jumping up into her lap.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s the Librarian?\u201d she said, pulling a blanket from the floor so they could cuddle together.<\/p>\n She was my teacher<\/em>, Schrodinger told her, snuggling down in her lap. The wisest of the CrossCats in my pack. One of the wisest CrossCats in the Realms.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat did she say?\u201d Molly loved to hear Schrodinger talk of his family. \u201cAnd why did you go to see her?\u201d<\/p>\n Because there is very little in the Realms that she doesn\u2019t know. She listens, and people tell her things. All sorts of things. And she said there are dark things happening.<\/em> Schrodinger paused. She said that the Snow Queen has been busy lately, trying to settle something.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSettle something?\u201d<\/p>\n Yes. The Librarian said there has been dissent in the Realms, old angers boiling over.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBut what does that have to do with Drew?\u201d Molly asked. \u201cDoes she need him to be a diplomat? And why him?\u201d<\/p>\n Schrodinger crossed his paws and put his chin down on them. The Librarian said Old Man Winter has been seen again.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Old Man Winter,<\/em> Schrodinger repeated. He\u2019s almost a legend. I\u2019ve heard a lot of stories – some say he\u2019s the father of the Snow Queen, others say that they are brother and sister. He\u2019s been around as long as I can remember, and he brings the winter winds and snows. For a long time, he wouldn\u2019t come out into the Realms – he\u2019d just send his winds, or, occasionally, his wolves.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHis wolves?\u201d Molly shivered. \u201cThose sound dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n They are,<\/em> Schrodinger agreed. They bring the winter storms, and I don\u2019t know anyone who has encountered them and lived to tell about it. But the Librarian said that two days ago, Old Man Winter and his wolves were out on the Roads, and they were hunting. She said that the last time he went hunting, he destroyed an entire village.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s when Drew went missing,\u201d Molly said. \u201cDo you think Old Man Winter took him?\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know, but it seems odd that suddenly Old Man Winter shows up, and Drew goes missing,<\/em> Schrodinger said. Drew had a lot of plans for this month, and I don\u2019t think he would have given them up lightly. But if Old Man Winter is bent on destroying something, then I could see Drew trying to stop him.<\/em><\/p>\n Molly thought about that as she stroked Schrodinger\u2019s head. \u201cJade – the Snow Queen – told me that Drew was doing something very important,\u201d she said thoughtfully. \u201cAnd you say Old Man Winter likes to come out and destroy things. And the Gate that Drew was working on still isn\u2019t responding.\u201d<\/p>\n The Road moved,<\/em> Schrodinger said. I went and checked, after I left the Librarian\u2019s den. The Road definitely moved, and it wasn\u2019t by accident. Someone ripped it from the Gate.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat takes a lot of power.\u201d Molly shivered. \u201cSomething Old Man Winter would have, especially now.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes. And I checked out the way station that they were staying in. There\u2019s magic all over it,<\/em> Schrodinger said. And the only scents are Drew\u2019s, the other two who were with him, and cold. Very cold.<\/em><\/p>\n Molly shivered again. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t sound like what Jade said she did. That sounds like he was kidnapped.\u201d<\/p>\n I think that\u2019s what happened.<\/em> Schrodinger shook his head. I think that someone told Old Man Winter that Drew would be there. And they waited for him. He paused again. Maybe Jade told her father, if he is her father, that he would be there, that he was the one who they needed to take. Which isn\u2019t like her.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cUnless she knew he was the one that could stop Old Man Winter from destroying wherever he was going to destroy,\u201d Molly said. \u201cI could see that. Drew can be very persuasive.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think it\u2019s just Drew,<\/em> Schrodinger said. Old Man Winter doesn\u2019t negotiate – he destroys. When he decides to hunt, nothing stops him.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHave you heard of any towns being destroyed?\u201d Molly asked.<\/p>\n No, and neither had the Librarian.<\/em> It was Schrodinger\u2019s turn to shiver. Which means that he might still be hunting. And if he needed Drew\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Molly swallowed as his voice trailed off, and then finished his sentence. \u201cThen maybe the town he\u2019s hunting is Carter\u2019s Cove.\u201d<\/p>\n <><><\/p>\n They had been walking for over an hour. Drew didn\u2019t know how long, exactly, but his toes and his fingertips were both numb, and it hadn\u2019t been that cold out. He was carrying a heavy pack, weighted with God knew what, and following the strange old man through the woods. The old man had his own pack, as big as the one he\u2019d handed Drew, but it didn\u2019t seem to slow him down at all.<\/p>\n The sun was up now, and sparkling on the new snow. Drew had no idea where they were – he\u2019d never visited the Snow Queen\u2019s realm, but if this wasn\u2019t it, he\u2019d eat the hat the old man was wearing. He couldn\u2019t ask, either; the pace was enough to keep him breathless. Not that the old man would answer any questions.<\/p>\n He was just about to ask anyways, when the old man stopped and held up his hand. \u201cWait,\u201d the man said. \u201cDon\u2019t move.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew tensed and looked around. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I don\u2019t want you to scare her,\u201d the old man snapped. \u201cStay here while I go in. Come in when I tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome in where?\u201d Drew said, but the man was already gone, melting into the underbrush. After a moment, he spotted the game trail. What is going on?<\/p>\n As he waited, Drew realized something else – he didn\u2019t hear anything. He could see the branches moving, showing where the old man was heading, but he didn\u2019t hear any crunching of snow, no footprints. Who was this guy, anyways?<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d he heard, after about 15 minutes of silence. \u201cYou can come back, but do it slowly. She knows you\u2019re coming, but she\u2019s not happy about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew pushed his way through the underbrush. The fresh snow crunched under his feet; the old man hadn\u2019t broken a trail to wherever he was. Fir tree branches scratched against his face and arms, filling the air with fragrance. Finally, he broke into a small clearing and saw who \u201cshe\u201d was.<\/p>\n The old man was seated in the snow, but that wasn\u2019t what caught Drew\u2019s attention. Curled half in his lap was the smallest dragon he had ever seen. Of course, it was the only dragon he had ever seen, but still. He\u2019d thought they\u2019d be\u2026bigger.<\/p>\n This dragon was about the size of a large wolf, or a small adult deer; she was sprawled in the snow, her jewel-toned head resting in the old man\u2019s lap. Her wings were furled against her sinuous body, and she glimmered in the filtered sunlight. All in all, she was breathtaking.<\/p>\n \u201cCareful,\u201d the old man warned as Drew stepped into the clearing. \u201cDon\u2019t startle her. She\u2019s in a lot of pain, and not feeling very charitable.\u201d<\/p>\n The dragon\u2019s head had shot up as the young tech came into the small glade; her sapphire eyes fastened on to him, freezing him in place. The faintest wisp of blue-grey smoke rose from one of her nostrils.<\/p>\n Drew saw why she was in pain immediately. Somehow, she\u2019d been caught in a bear trap: the rusted iron teeth of the medieval device had sunk right through her magical scales, biting deeply into her flesh. The old man was supporting more than her head, but Drew noticed he was also keeping well away of the iron. Which is why he brought me along, he realized. I\u2019m the only one who can take the touch of the iron.<\/p>\n Moving slowly, the way he had back on his parents\u2019 farm around the horses they\u2019d bred, Drew knelt down next to the dragon, trying not to flinch back from the feel of her gaze boring into his back. He eased the pack down and reached out to lay a hand on the trap.<\/p>\n \u201cEasy, girl,\u201d he said quietly, as he felt her flinch. \u201cI\u2019m not going to hurt you.\u201d He continued to talk in the same calm, soothing voice he\u2019d used on his father\u2019s prized Percherons as he ran his fingers around the trap, wincing inwardly at the extent of the damage. The teeth had barely missed severing her leg.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you get it off, boy?\u201d the old man asked, using the same calm, quiet voice. He was stroking the dragon\u2019s head. Other than a slight trembling of her body, she hadn\u2019t moved, and Drew knew she was still watching him.<\/p>\n \u201cDepends on what tools are in this pack you had me carry,\u201d Drew replied, sitting back on his heels to study the trap some more. \u201cAnd if she lets me put any pressure on the trap.\u201d<\/p>\n Do what you need to, mortal.<\/em> The voice in his head was softer, lighter than Schrodinger\u2019s, but it rang with a resonance the CrossCat\u2019s mental tone lacked. I will endure.<\/em><\/p>\n Drew dared to lay a hand on her flank, well away from the wounds. \u201cI\u2019ll be as careful as I can be,\u201d he promised. Then he turned his attention to the pack. The old man had packed well – there was a large set of bolt cutters, as well as plenty of bandages and tubes of ointment. He pulled out the cutters, and positioned them on the end of one of the trap\u2019s jaws, targeting the hinges.<\/p>\n One quick snap, and the trap sang as the edges of the metal parted. The next cut would be the tricky one – he stood up and, moving slowly, straddled her leg so he could get the other hinge. Another snap, and Drew tossed the bolt cutters aside.<\/p>\n Before he started to pull the teeth from her flesh, Drew knelt down beside her again. He couldn\u2019t just lift the trap – whoever had built the wretched thing had serrated the teeth, which meant her scales and flesh were tangled within the metal. If he lifted it recklessly, he could sever her leg.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is going to be the hard part,\u201d he warned her. \u201cI\u2019m going to go slowly, but it\u2019s not going to be painless. I promise, I\u2019ll be as gentle as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe silver tube has a numbing agent in it,\u201d the old man said. \u201cSmear that on before you start.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew did so, feeling the dragon\u2019s scales shiver under his touch. Then he settled down in the snow and began the delicate, tedious task of removing the trap from her flesh.<\/p>\n It felt like hours later when he lifted the last bit of metal from the top part of the trap from her leg, and lifted it away. Then he looked at the old man and the dragon.<\/p>\n \u201cIn order to get the other one out, we\u2019re going to have to move you,\u201d Drew said to the dragon. \u201cThe other part of the trap is going to be even more embedded. Are you okay with moving?\u201d<\/p>\n Yes<\/em>, the dragon said, after a moment. But I will need help.<\/em><\/p>\n Between the two of them, the old man and Drew managed to turn her over with a minimum of jostling of her injured leg. In his head, Drew kept seeing, not the dragon, but Schrodinger, or one of the other animals from Carter\u2019s Cove, trapped in the evil thing, and the rage grew in his chest. What kind of monster sets traps like this?<\/em><\/p>\n The old man spat on the ground next to him, away from the dragon. \u201cSame kind that brings unrest to the Roads. There are always troublemakers around.\u201d<\/p>\n And there are always friends who will help,<\/em> the dragon said, laying her head on the old man\u2019s shoulder. Don\u2019t forget that, old friend. There is always a positive to the negative.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot always,\u201d the old man said darkly. \u201cNot always.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, always,<\/em> the dragon replied. You just don\u2019t always see them.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBah.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew bent his head over the wound, his mind working as quickly as his fingers. The back and forth seemed to indicate that the two were friends, longstanding friends, but he had a hard time believing that the old man would have anything like a friend. Then again, he really hadn\u2019t had any time to get to know the guy. Meh,<\/em> Drew decided, not my problem.<\/em><\/p>\n You would be surprised,<\/em> came that resonant voice in his head. Old Man Winter is a complex man, and his destiny is tied to yours.<\/em><\/p>\n What? Drew stopped and looked at the old man and the dragon. \u201cWait, you\u2019re Old Man Winter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep,\u201d the old man said. \u201cSo what?\u201d<\/p>\n After a moment, Drew bent back to his work. \u201cSo you\u2019re the one who wants to destroy the Cove.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n That one laconic word, casually dismissing the town that had taken Drew in, had sheltered him when he\u2019d needed it, smoldered in his mind as he continued to pick the jagged teeth from the dragon\u2019s flesh. \u201cWhy?\u201d he asked finally.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause your people don\u2019t understand about what the Roads are,\u201d Old Man Winter said, still stroking the dragon\u2019s head gently. \u201cThe Roads are supposed to bring peace, bring cultures together. All your people want is money, and war. Violence. Things like this.\u201d He glared at the bloodied trap part lying in the snow.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you never had issues before the humans got on the Roads,\u201d Drew countered. \u201cLife was just sunshine and roses, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t as widespread,\u201d the old man snapped. \u201cYour people need to learn a lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew shook his head, and concentrated on what he was doing. The dragon was more important than arguing. But now I know a bit more about what the Snow Queen wanted me to do<\/em>, he thought to himself. And I\u2019m starting to see what I\u2019m going to have to do to accomplish it.<\/em><\/p>\n <><><\/p>\n The glass doors of the Daughter of Stars Middle School (named after Captain Carter\u2019s ship that he first sailed into the Cove, back before the current town had been formed) was decorated with thousands of paper snowflakes and snowmen, all drawn by the children who were even now squirming in their seats, sneaking looks at the clock and counting down the minutes until they were released. Molly knew exactly where most of them would run: right into the gymnasium, where dozens of table were set up, covered with amazing goodies.<\/p>\n She looked around Sue\u2019s car, making sure she wasn\u2019t leaving anything behind, and then heaved her last box of decorated cookies out of the trunk. Schrodinger was inside, guarding the other cookies with Sue – it should have been Drew helping, but well\u2026We work with what we have,<\/em> Molly thought grimly, pushing her way through the double doors. We can handle this. Luckily, Sue was willing to come and help.<\/em><\/p>\n She\u2019d done more than that – Sue had shown up with tablecloths and placards with prices on them, done in brilliant Christmas colors. While Molly was getting the last of the cookies from the car, Sue and Schrodinger had claimed their three tables, and spread the cranberry red and evergreen plaid tablecloths out. One of the totes held silver trays; as Molly set down her box of cookies, Sue was already laying the trays.<\/p>\n \u201cI figured you wanted me to do this,\u201d she said, as Molly looked over her arrangements. \u201cI haven\u2019t touched the actual cookies yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine.\u201d Molly stepped out and looked at the tables from the front with a critical eye. \u201cIt looks great so far!\u201d<\/p>\n Around them, other folks were doing the exact same thing: putting out all sorts of homemade goodies, edible and not, onto tables. The proceeds would go to the school, and every year, the folks of the Cove pitched in. Well, most of them did.<\/p>\n Molly shook her head and started to put snowman cookies on one of the trays. \u201cPut the snowflakes on that one,\u201d she said to Sue, who went into another box. \u201cThe candy cane ones can be stood up in the vase in the tray box.\u201d<\/p>\n Working quickly and in almost perfect sync, they had the tables set up in no time. Molly and Schrodinger had put their heads together to figure out exactly what kind of cookies to bring. It was the first time in several years that Molly had had the day off for the cookie sale, and she\u2019d wanted to make sure she made every child\u2019s day with her offerings.<\/p>\n \u201cI also made these up for you,\u201d Sue said, passing a stack of papers to Molly, who took them with a blank, puzzled look on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat – oh! Thank you!\u201d<\/p>\n They were order forms, done in the same colors as the price cards, for Molly\u2019s Christmas goodies. Every year, she took orders for cookies, cakes, scones and other baked goods, and every year, she\u2019d sworn she was going to make order forms for them. She\u2019d never gotten around to it. \u201cWhat would I do without you?\u201d she said, giving Sue a quick hug. \u201cThey\u2019re perfect!\u201d<\/p>\n Sue beamed. \u201cAnd I have the template saved, so we can make more!\u201d She also produced a couple of clipboards, with candy cane pens already attached. \u201cI borrowed these from the museum, too. I thought we could use them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI should hire you to be my business manager,\u201d Molly said, laughing.<\/p>\n \u201cI work cheap,\u201d Sue replied. \u201cI\u2019ll settle for cookies every day!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDone!\u201d<\/p>\n And then, from above, a harsh familiar buzzer sounded, and Molly and Sue got down to business.<\/p>\n It was a frantic rush, but a fun one: children and their parents wound through the passages created by the tables, oohing and aahing over the variety of goods available from all the tables. Molly\u2019s cookies went quickly, and Sue collected a large stack of filled in orders.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to be busy this December,\u201d Molly said to Schrodinger, looking at the pile in Sue\u2019s hands. \u201cHow many copies of those did you make?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly one hundred,\u201d Sue said. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to overwhelm you. Aunt Margie would kill me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank goodness.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMolly?\u201d<\/p>\n They all turned at the sound of the voice. There was a little girl standing in front of the table, her pale blue eyes looking past them, her delicate face alight with excitement.<\/p>\n Sarah!<\/em> Schrodinger leaped out from behind the table and snuggled carefully up to the girl, who leaned down and unerringly hugged him. I was hoping you\u2019d come!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOf course I\u2019d come,\u201d she told him. \u201cI have something to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou do?\u201d Molly asked.<\/p>\n Sarah nodded. \u201cIt will only take a minute,\u201d she said. \u201cI have to do it quick, before Dad comes over.\u201d<\/p>\n Considering her father was Police Sargent Jamie Carter, Molly grinned. \u201cI have an idea of what it is,\u201d she said, and Sarah giggled. \u201cHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMom said we could get two this year, and I\u2019d like to make one a Christmas tree, if you could,\u201d Sarah said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can do a gingerbread Christmas tree,\u201d Molly said, writing down the order. \u201cDid you want the other one to be a regular gingerbread house?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you do the Gate station?\u201d Sarah asked wistfully. \u201cMom said it\u2019s beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course!\u201d It would take a bit more gingerbread than the normal house, but for Sarah, Molly would do it. The little blind girl was one of her favorites, too. \u201cFor the week before Christmas?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, please.\u201d Sarah held out her hand, which held not only a check, but a small box. \u201cAnd I was supposed to ask you to use this as a template for the ornaments.\u201d<\/p>\n Taking the box, Molly frowned. \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n Then she saw the red envelope as she opened the lid. \u201cOh Sarah, you too?\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah grinned. \u201cIs it pretty?\u201d<\/p>\n Molly lifted the envelope out, and then pulled out the ornament. This one was gold, with pearl beads interspersed in the webbing. \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful,\u201d she said, putting the ornament in the girl\u2019s hand. \u201cAll gold, with bits of pearl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt sounds lovely,\u201d Sarah told her, running her fingers over the webbing. Then she handed the ornament back. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to see the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll make it shine,\u201d Molly told her.<\/p>\n Sarah turned to leave, but then turned back, her sightless eyes bright. \u201cHe\u2019ll be back, Molly. He said to tell you he loves you, and that he knows you\u2019ll help.\u201d<\/p>\n He knows you\u2019ll help<\/em>. Molly stiffened. That wasn\u2019t what she was expecting.<\/p>\n But it was true. Ever since Schrodinger had told her what he\u2019d found, she\u2019d been turning over ways in her mind to help Drew. To get him home soon.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d she said now. \u201cI\u2019ll help.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah smiled and then ran off.<\/p>\n How will we help?<\/em> Schrodinger asked, coming over to her.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know yet,\u201d Molly said, looking down at the little ball in her hand. \u201cBut we will.\u201d<\/p>\n <><><><><><><><><\/p>\n Things are definitely changing! \u00a0What will Molly, Drew and Schrodinger have to do to convince Old Man Winter to change his mind?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yeah, I know, I normally decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. It’s been one of those years. My cards aren’t done yet either. That’s tomorrow, I think. <><><><><><><><><> Bang! The slamming of the front door jolted Drew from sleep. He lay there a moment longer, dazed, wondering what he\u2019d heard. Then heavy footsteps clomped across the …<\/p>\n