SIPHO AND THE GOLDEN NAILS - CHAPTER 10

Hello everybody,

Hope this blog finds you all well.
Yes it is the weekend again and I want to tell you that I have been part of the team reporting on the Nelson Mandela saga since his admission to hospital. I will give you a link to the latest article. Please read and share.


http://guardianlv.com/2013/07/nelson-mandela-doctors-overruled-by-south-african-president-jacob-zuma/

Yes it is just such a huge cover up, and a sad time for the South African people to deal with their grief while the family fight and disgrace the Mandela legacy.

Well, update time, I have tried to get my book ready for publication and will probably do so next month. In the meantime I have skipped a chapter or two and now sharing Chapter 10 with you.


Chapter 10
SIPHO KIDNAPPED
Early the next morning, Lindiwe went to the royal kraal and found Sipho playing outside. She told him that she wanted to spend another day with her mother and that they could return to the settlement the following day. Sipho agreed, and she made her way home to her mother.
It was late in the afternoon, and after spending some time with his grandfather, Sipho left to play with a few friends. He saw a group of boys near the far end of the village and walking toward them, he heard the sound of someone crying outside of the village. He walked closer to the fence, and although he could not see anybody, he quickly ran to the gate and round to the place where he heard the crying. He stopped in front of a little bare footed girl, who was wearing a tattered red dress and sitting on a rock. Her knotted black hair was hanging over her face. He looked at her in bewilderment and asked her if she was lost. The little girl nodded, and he walked closer to her and told her that he would take her home. She stood up and took his hand. He started walking toward the village entrance, and the young child started to cry again. Sipho stopped and asked her what was wrong. She told him in a terribly broken voice that she lived in the cave behind a hill and not in the village. Confused he tried to question her about the cave and her being lost. She continued to cry and kept pointing toward the hills.
Sipho reluctantly decided to guide her to her home, even though it was getting late, and turning away from the village, walked further into the woodlands and the nearby hills. The little girl stopped crying and smiled. They did not talk as they ventured further and further away from the village. Suddenly Sipho saw an opening in one of the nearby hills, and asked the child if it was here that she lived. She nodded, and they continued toward the opening. At the entrance, he let go of her hand and wanting to get back, told her to go inside and not to wander off again. As soon as he turned around to leave, a huge man grabbed him from behind and held his hand over his mouth, telling him to be quiet and dragged him inside the cave.
Sipho looked around. It was quite dark inside the cave, and a dim light at the far end cast shadows on the surrounding walls. The man, still holding onto him, would not remove his hand from his mouth and kept telling him to be quiet. Sipho squirmed and tried to free himself, but his captor was too powerful.
The man paused for a few moments and listened to the sound of voices coming from within the cave. Still holding on to Sipho he walked further into the dark cave but Sipho saw nothing except darkness. The low murmur of voices still came from within. The captor released his tight grip and told Sipho to be quiet. Frightened he obeyed, relieved to be free from this monstrous man. There was a thumping sound and the captor grabbed Sipho's arm again. Intense fear leaped into Sipho's heart, and he shook his head at the sight of a horrendous creature advancing toward him. Without any warning, an unknown weight crashed down upon his head, and he fell into unconsciousness.
Sipho woke up; his head was heavy and aching. He knew he was alive, but he did not know much more. He stared into the face of an unpleasant and menacing demon, trying to recall what had happened to him, but the effort was too great. He realized that he was lying on his back and saw two more demons on each side of him. Then it slowly entered his mind that he was in Hades again!
He made another effort to gather up his drifting thoughts and realized with a shudder that the face that was looking directly into his was that of another drooling demon. Making a supreme effort he sat up and the demon laughed. Sipho turned his head and looked around at a demon with terrifying features sitting at his side.
Sipho still feeling confused, yet afraid, wanted to speak, but no words came to him. Stunned by his sudden muteness, he shook his head and again tried to sit up properly. The demon on his left pushed him down again. Lying on his back he tried to cough, but there was no sound. Determined that he would not fall asleep, he nevertheless felt a heavy darkness come over him and was asleep within minutes.
Pandemonium reigned in the control center as Zanu, and the team watched the monitor showing Sipho being led into one of the caves by an innocent looking child. Zanu told Zerydo to leave for the cave immediately and try to rescue Sipho. It was evident that Satan had kidnapped him. They were unable to view the inside of the cave and had no idea what was happening. Zanu felt a knot in his stomach at the way events had turned out. He knew losing Sipho now would not bode well with God Most High.
Zerydo and three guards gathered some equipment and left the sacred hill. They decided to use the vehicle instead of walking as it would be much quicker. Although the guards knew of the possible dangers that could befall them, they chose to remain silent. They felt confident that Zerydo would be able to protect them from whatever dangers lay ahead in the cave.
The full moon shone down, clothing the world in a beautiful blue and silver light. A myriad of stars spread across the dark sky. They stopped not too far from the entrance to the cave where they assumed Sipho was being held captive. Walking quietly toward the entrance, and not wanting to stumble over obstacles or alert any demons, they proceeded cautiously. Zerydo studied the bushes very closely, trying to discern their enemies among them, but he saw nothing there but for a slight movement of the leaves rustled by the wind. He continued walking toward the entrance.
Zerydo whispered and told two of the guards to remain outside and ordered a rather hefty muscular guard named Thomas to go with him. Understanding their instructions, they watched Zerydo and Thomas step into the cave carefully and proceed without making any noise, and, at the same time, listening for any sound or movement from within the cave.
Zerydo preceded Thomas into the dark cave and soon saw a dim light glowing from behind some big rocks. He stood still for a moment and heard muttering which made no sense to him at all. He continued to stalk silently toward the rocks, stopping to obtain a better view of what the light revealed. Peeking around a rock, he saw the three demons surrounding Sipho who was lying so still that Zerydo thought he was probably unconscious. Waiting for a moment he wondered what he was going to do and how he should approach them.
Without any warning, he sprang from behind the rock and stood in full view of the demons. Upon hearing the thump, they turned their heads in shock at the sight of Zerydo and retreated slightly.
"So you have returned for a second time! I knew you would not be able to stay away," growled the demon closest to him in a slurred voice.
Zerydo's anger increased within. This demon’s attitude was beyond all endurance, and he thought to himself that he would make the demon suffer this time! He sprang forward and reached for the demon, grabbing at his throat.
"I didn't touch him! I never laid so much as a finger on Sipho," sniveled the demon.
"You are abominable demons, and I will make sure you are sent back to hell!" Zerydo shouted in a thundering voice while keeping his eyes fixed on the demon behind Sipho.
The third demon had not gone but a few steps back, when Zerydo, still holding onto the first demon, caught his arm.
The other demon came from behind and struck him on his head. Immediately he shoved the two demons he was holding and flung them to the ground. The blow to his head was not that powerful and Zerydo, only a little stunned, reached out, seized the demon, and hit him with a mighty blow that caused him to fall to the ground.
Zerydo stared at the demons. He knew the last demon had tried to trap him with the sneaky blow to his head. Zerydo shuddered at the thought of being careless and of being captured by them. He knew he was a spirit being, and he would not allow these hideous creatures to overpower him. His head still ached slightly, but that did not stop him from taking control of the situation once more.
He called Thomas to come forward. The guard, who had seen the whole incident, was reluctant and moved forward at a slow pace. Zerydo, told him to tie up the demon lying on the floor, who appeared to be crushed from the severe strike of Zerydo hitting him. The Anglurian guard proceeded to carry out the instructions without muttering a word. Zerydo turned and stared at the other two demons lying so still on the ground and looking devilishly pathetic. The demons were angry. Angry that their effort, made at such enormous risk, should have failed through the mere chance of Zerydo coming into the cave at that particular time. They were angry, too that Zerydo had bruised them so badly.
"Yes, I've come back," he said, waggling his finger menacingly at them.
The heat and humidity had increased; it was becoming uncomfortable to stay much longer. Watching Thomas finish securing the two demons who continued to hiss and moan at their fate, Zerydo looked down at the unconscious demon who obviously was hurt and not responding.
Zerydo walked over to where Sipho lay so still. He bent down and called out his name. There was no response. He looked around and knew he had to explore the inner part of the cave. He needed to know if there were any other demons or traps, which Satan could use against them. He also knew he had to get Sipho out of this dreadful place.
"I'm going now, but I'll come back, when you least expect it," he said while looking at the two demons hissing at their misfortune.
The look in the demons’ eyes did not show any regrets, it was far more the look of monsters ready to attack him again. They paid no attention to Zerydo staring at them with blazing eyes. Zerydo felt a strong premonition of more trouble ahead than he had anticipated. His mind instantaneously became active and alert, fearing more unpleasant surprises. He heard a sound of something like a howl in the distance, but kept his eyes focused on the three demons.
Suddenly a groan was released from the body of the demon that lay motionless on the ground. Zerydo turned around and watched the big-headed demon moan as he tried to move around. Almost at the same instant, he heard the howling sound again, and he turned around to face in the direction of the noise. He realized the screeching sound was not from the three demons that Thomas had tied up, and he tried to focus on where this sound came from.
He drew a laser gun from his pocket and waited for the in demon to appear. He was certain it would come in the next moment, but the seconds passed and all remained intensely still.
Gradually his senses heightened, and his heart gave a more rapid beat than usual, when he caught sight of another demon at the far end of the cave. Larger than the three captive demons, and possessing three heads all bobbing and hissing while emitting a chilling sound moved toward Zerydo. He knew it would be dangerous to fight this giant monstrosity and with his weapon ready for instant use, he advanced a pace or two. Without hesitating, he pointed his gun at the middle head and fired! It did nothing, the demon kept moving forward. Zerydo again fired another blast and then another. The demon remained standing and continued to move closer to him. Zerydo fearing the worst stepped back, turning the dial on the gun from stun to kill, and immediately fired another round at the monster. At first, nothing happened. Then slowly, very slowly, the hulking three-headed demon fell and lay motionless.
Zerydo, without hesitating grabbed Sipho and told Thomas to get out as quickly as possible. They ran to the entrance and were relieved to find the other guards unharmed and waiting for them. With great haste, they all jumped into the vehicle and drove as fast the vehicle would go over the rough terrain toward the settlement.
Not even noticing how pleasant the night was or how warm the scented air was their only focus was to get back to safety. They drove to the sacred hill and were pleased to see a contingent of guards prepared for their return. Zerydo, still carrying Sipho, thanked the guards and instructed them to seal the entrance and not to open up without express permission. He ran toward the control room and bursting in yelled at Zanu to get help immediately. Zanu called several council members, scientists, and anybody else who might be able to help the unconscious Sipho.
Zerydo put Sipho on the table and stepped back as several members began to examine him.
"Zanu, you do realize we do not have any medical doctors, and I am unsure of what is exactly wrong with little Sipho," Zerydo said.
"Calm down. I am sure we will be able to revive him and take care of him until he has fully recovered."
"As confident as always - I hope you are right," Zerydo said and walked over to fetch some juice and slake his thirst.
Walking back to Zanu, he stood beside his brother and waited to hear what the members had to say. After several minutes, they heard a small faint voice and everyone smiled. Sipho was waking up - they had managed to revive him. Zanu and Zerydo went closer and saw that although Sipho was not moving, his eyes were open. Sipho immediately recognized Zanu and Zerydo and smiled. He then closed his eyes and slept. They moved him from the table to a more comfortable couch and took turns sitting with him for the rest of the night, watching for any movement or sound the child might make.
Both Zerydo and Zanu, although exhausted, did not want to leave him alone. The two of them spoke about Zerydo’s encounter in the cave with the demons. Zanu was uncomfortable with the killing of a monster, but reassured Zerydo that they should be safer now that they were back in the settlement. He tried to understand Zerydo's fear, and knew he would have to speak with God Most High and gather more information on what they could expect from the demons of Hades.

Hope you enjoyed, looking forward to sharing more soon.

All the best and have a super week.
Your friend,
Laura

Zuma: We are corruption Busters

Hello Everybody,

Hope this blog finds you all well.

A busy week for the media, the news of Nelson Mandela, the president Obama visit, and the usual murders, corruption, rapes and other horrid crimes here in South Africa.

Last week I shared one of my published articles with you, and this week I would like to do the same. As South Africa is constantly in the news this week, I will share my article on President Zuma and his speech regarding corruption. This article was written during May 2013.

Zuma: We are corruption Busters

Of course, President Jacob Zuma would say his party the defiant ANC are the corruption busters, and why not, with the new secrecy bill passed through parliament this week. The new secrecy bill will certainly give the president more power and together with the extreme corruption faction, will be able to conceal their unscrupulous behavior from the public.
Corruption started in government several decades ago, and under the old system appeared more discreet not escalating to the astonishing extent as it is today. Corruption spreads from government right through to the public servants, and reaching the private sector to. Whom I must ask will be the corruption busters, the government, the police, and the civil servants. No, I do not think so, they are corrupt, and continue to seize every opportunity for self-enrichment through their deceitful schemes. The only time they will testify against another is when the pressure becomes impossible against their own secret hidden agendas.
As a citizen of this country, I can honestly say the government does not disassociate itself from corruption, they only pretend to. A few honest members of the public are the real whistle blowers of corruption. Exposure to crime happens everyday, by the police, municipal and other public servants. The stories are endless, and the amounts of money they try to extort from people is absurd. Laziness and timing are also a form of accountability for the smaller evil actions taken by the police. The drug dealers around the country have become a nightmare; there are no ends to their disgusting habits and why, simply because they are corrupt. As citizens, we continually report incidents to our incredible police force only to encounter rejection, simply because of corruption.
Tender fraud and corruption will not stop. A few small private companies presented tenders, to the relevant government departments and immediately disqualified because they did not have an ANC membership card. I ask again, how can the honest businessperson expand his business and generate employment when all criteria's for the tender were met except for the membership card. How can we look forward when the corruption system is securely in place for the benefit of the ANC party members? After all, it was Zuma himself who said, "It is cold outside of the ANC."
Oh, it has happened again, the President and his administration have mentioned a few measures on how they want to expose corruption. It is another misleading promise!

Well hope you enjoyed. A quick update, I should receive a proof copy of my book toward the end of this month and if all is good, can go ahead and publish. Next week I will share another chapter.

All the best.
Your friend,
Laura

What Soldiers do an American WWII GIs Expose

Hello everybody,

Hope this post finds you all in good health and happy.

I have not abandoned the 2nd book in the Anglurian Story, I have in fact rewritten most of the story, so the few chapters I have posted on this blog have changed and I think the changes make a remarkable improvement to the story. I will share more soon.





I occasionally write articles for the Guardian Express and will share some with you. This is an article written about a month ago. Hope you enjoy.

What Soldiers do an American WWII GIs Expose

A new book, “What Soldiers Do”, written by Professor Mary Louise Roberts, from the University of Wisconsin, has revealed American WWII GIs feared the French as much as the Germans. The book renders an important contribution for the public to understand the American Experience during World War 2.
Professor Roberts said, "my book seeks to debunk an old myth about the GI, thought of as a manly creature that always behaved well. The GIs were having sex anywhere and everywhere."
The book "What Soldiers do" focuses on the soldiers of World War II and their relations with the French people, the dark side of Europe’s liberation after the Second World War. The arrival of the US soldiers in France, Europe saw an escalation of rape charges, crime increasing, and reports of their bad behaviour.
The major of Le Havre received letters of protest from the locals and the open solicitation for sex of married or unmarried women. The complained of being attacked, robbed, and forced out of their houses.
Bombed out buildings, cemeteries, railway tracks and parks were the venues used for their carnal deeds.
The book claims the US army ‘demonstrated a deep and abiding racism’, and most of the rape charges were blamed on black GI's. It was proven that 130 of the 153 troops disciplined by the army were black. Professor Roberts said, ‘American propaganda did not sell the war to soldiers as a struggle for freedom but as a sexual adventure.’
Today problems of sexual assault persist in the military and those in uniform are victims as well.
A report of the Department of Defense last year showed thirty-seven present increase in reports of unwanted sexual contact. A series of sex-related scandals in recent weeks sent a wave of concern to the Pentagon. Sexual harassment in the military is a profound betrayal of sacred oaths and sacred trust.
President Barak Obama while visiting the US Naval Academy in Maryland told the graduates that sexual assault threatened to erode trust and discipline in America's forces.
The book released one day after a Japanese politician roused an international row by stating the use of sex slaves during WW2 was justified, and accused other countries of using the same practice. He argued that it was necessary to force Asian women into prostitution in order to maintain military discipline and provide relaxation for the soldiers.
Public outcry followed his comments and deflected the criticism by accusing America and Britain of using sex slaves for their own soldiers.
He said it is an historical fact and that there was evidence proving the sex slaves were true. Other countries had military brothels, Japan remains the only country accused of extensive organised sexual slavery.
We cannot imagine the horror and trauma these young men endured. War inflicts its own level of insanity and uncertainty. Warfare affects the soul, the compassion, and humanity of these youngsters. All soldiers threatened with combat are wounded. We choose to forget or ignore the circumstances of these young men and the horrific conditions they endured during the wartime.

Wishing you all the best,
Your friend
Laura

Remembering the Soweto uprising

Hello everybody,
Hope you are all well and enjoying your Sunday.

Today in South Africa it is 'Youth Day', a public holiday launched 38 years ago in remembrance of the the innocent lives lost on that dreadful day.

I wrote this article and want to share it with you.

Remembering the Soweto uprising

June 16, 1976 turned into a bloody day for the young students of Soweto, South Africa. The Soweto uprising remembered annually on the public holiday – renamed 'youth day', by governments and South Africans equally.
It is now 38 years since that terrible day when an estimated 176 students died, and it is their determination for equal rights and freedom that now represents the public holiday.
On the morning of June 16 1976, an estimated 20,000 students from several Sowetan schools began a strike in the streets of Soweto. The protest was against the introduction of the Afrikaans language in local schools.
The black students protested against the forceful use of the Afrikaans and English language teaching. It was during 1975 that the Regional Director of Bantu Education announced the call of Afrikaans language usage for certain subjects including mathematics in schools. This new language launch was for students in 7th grade upwards, and informed that the natural indigenous languages used by the students would only be for religion, music and social lessons.
The worldwide growth of resentment toward the South African apartheid system, the increase of 'black power' in the USA, and the impact of colonialism in Africa caused the system to show visible signs of weakening in the early 1970's. The black students in particular, associated Afrikaans with Apartheid, and as English was a prominent language worldwide, they preferred English with an native African language as the official languages. This compelling instruction remained widely criticized, and teachers at that time, raised concerns on how the students had to focus on understanding the Afrikaans language instead of facts taught. It discouraged critical thinking they remarked. The words of Desmond Tutu referred to Afrikaans as the language of the oppressor.
During April 1976 as the widespread resent of the Afrikaans language grew the students of Orlando West Junior School went on strike, refusing to go to school. This rebellion spread to other schools in Soweto. They protested because they believed they deserved to be taught equally to White South Africans. During the following months, the students continued to hold secret meetings and make plans to have their voice heard by the oppressive apartheid regime. The students organized a peaceful mass rally for June 16, to demonstrate the power and influence of their unity.
Almost 20 000 black students walked from their schools to the Orlando Stadium on the morning of June 16, 1976 for their planned peaceful demonstration to protest against the usage of Afrikaans language in schools. While marching toward their destination, they discovered the police had barricaded the road. The participating teachers told the students not to annoy the police, and they continued to advance along another route. While waving placards they used slogans such as "down with Afrikaans", and Vivi Azania", and the classic one, "if we must do Afrikaans, Voster must do Zulu".
From the planned peaceful protest to the death of nearly 176 students, and the debate of who fired the first shot remains a mystery for most. Many stories of the actual events were told, and it can be said that although the students were calm, there were the agitated ones who began to throw stones at the police. A police officer fired a warning shot, which caused panic and confusion. The students started screaming and running, and then more gunshots fired by the police. The police dogs were let loose among the children, and they stoned the dogs to death. Then the police began to shoot at the children directly.
The first child to die in the uprising was a 13-year-old student. Hector Pieterson and it is his death that became the symbol of the Soweto Uprising. Dr Melville Edelstein, had devoted his entire life to the social welfare of the blacks was stoned to death by the students who left a sign around his neck proclaiming "Beware Afrikaners".
A warzone for an entire day, where violence escalated between angered students and police. The overcrowded hospitals could not cope with the wounded and bloodied children, and emergency clinics were set up to assist with the devastation of the rebellion, which abated in the evening.
The Soweto Uprising of 1976 will be remembered by the affected people of that day, and the history books, which clearly define the bloodied events that claimed so many lives and scarred much more.

The link for the article is :http://guardianlv.com/2013/06/remembering-the-soweto-uprising/

Take care,
Your friend,
Laura

A German's View on Islam - it's well worth reading

Hello Everybody,
Hope this blog finds you all in good health.

I received an email from a friend, and I am sharing this with you today.




A German's View on Islam - it's well worth reading

This is by far the best explanation of the Muslim terrorist situation I have ever read. The author's references to past history are accurate and clear. It's not a lengthy read, it's easy to understand, and it's well worth the read. The author of this email is Dr.Emanuel Tanya, a well-known and well-respected psychiatrist.
A man, whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II, owned a number of large industries and estates. When he was asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism.
'Very few people were true Nazis,' he said, 'but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories. 'We are told again and again by 'experts' and 'talking heads', that Islam is the religion of peace and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.
The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor-kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. It is the fanatics who teach their young to kill and to become suicide bombers. The hard, quantifiable fact is that the peaceful majority, the 'silent majority,' is cowed and extraneous. Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people. The average Japanese individual prior to World War II was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asian an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet. And who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were 'peace loving'? History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason, we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points: Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun. Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late. Now Islamic prayers have been introduced into Toronto and other public schools in Ontario, and, yes, in Ottawa too while the Lord's Prayer was removed (due to being so offensive?) The Islamic way may be peaceful for the time being in our country until the fanatics move in. In Australia, and indeed in many countries around the world, many of the most commonly consumed food items have the halal emblem on them. Just look at the back of some of the most popular chocolate bars, and at other food items in your local supermarket. Foods on aircraft have the halal emblem, just to appease the privileged minority who are now rapidly expanding within the nation's shores. In the U.K, the Muslim communities refuse to integrate and there are now dozens of "no-go" zones within major cities across the country that the police force dare not intrude upon. Sharia law prevails there, because the Muslim communities in those areas refuse to acknowledge British law. As for us who watch it all unfold, we must pay attention to the only group that counts - the fanatics who threaten our way of life. Lastly, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious and just deletes this email without sending it on is contributing to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand. So, extend yourself a bit and send this on and on and on! Let us hope that thousands, worldwide, read this and think about it, and they also continue to send it on - before it's too late.
And we are silent......


All the best to you, have a great week ahead.
If you want to read some of my articles I had published on the Guardian Express, here is the link http://www.guardianlv.com

Take care,
From your friend,
Laura