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"Tennis!"

"Ping-pong!"

This would not have a happy ending So Ender decided that he'd rather not be the unhappiest at the end The next tirabbed at it He missed

"Oh, gonna fight ht me, Thirdie?"

The people behind Ender grabbed at him, to hold him

Ender did not feel like laughing, but he laughed "You ht one Third?"

"We're people, not Thirds, turd face You're about as strong as a fart!" But they let go of hih and hard, catching Stilson square in the breastbone He dropped It took Ender by surprise--he hadn't thought to put Stilson on the ground with one kick It didn't occur to hiht like this seriously, that he wasn't prepared for a truly desperate blow

For a moment, the others backed away and Stilson layif he was dead Ender, however, was trying to figure out a way to forestall vengeance To keep the him in a pack toht it every day and it will get worse and worse

Ender knew the unspoken rules of h he was only six It was forbidden to strike the opponent who lay helpless on the ground; only an animal would do that

So Ender walked to Stilson's supine body and kicked hiroaned and rolled away froain, in the crotch Stilson could not make a sound; he only doubled up and tears streamed out of his eyes

Then Ender looked at the others coldly "Youup on me You could probably beat me up pretty bad But just remember what I do to people who try to hurt et you, and how bad it would be" He kicked Stilson in the face Blood froround nearby "It wouldn't be this bad," Ender said "It would be worse"

He turned and walked away Nobody followed hi to the bus stop He could hear the boys behind hi, "Geez Look at hiainst the wall of the corridor and cried until the bus came I am just like Peter Take my monitor away, and I am just like Peter

2

PETER

"All right, it's off How's he doing"