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Ender had trouble focusing on Colonel Graff The man looked far away and very small, as if Ender could pick him up with tweezers and drop hio to a place that was very hard, with no Valentine, no Mom and Dad

And then he thought of the filers that everyone had to see at least once a year The Scathing of China The Battle of the Belt Death and suffering and terror And Mazer Rackha an ene the little huhting with grown-ups And on

"I'm

afraid," said Ender quietly "But I'll go with you"

"Tell ain," said Graff

"It's what I was born for, isn't it? If I don't go, why am I alive?"

"Not good enough," said Graff

"I don't want to go," said Ender, "but I will"

Graff nodded "You can change your et in e your mind After that, you stay at the pleasure of the International Fleet Do you understand that?"

Ender nodded

"All right Let's tell them"

Mother cried Father held Ender tight Peter shook his hand and said, "You lucky little pinheaded fart-eater" Valentine kissed him and left her tears on his cheek

There was nothing to pack No belongings to take "The school provides everything you need, from uniforame"

"Good-bye," Ender said to his family He reached up and took Colonel Graff's hand and walked out the door with him

"Kill soers for me!" Peter shouted