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Ender shook his head It was the stupidest thing he could think of, to proht years old Ender wasn't even seven yet And launches usuallya new kid at the same time There were no transfer slips on any of the other beds
Just when things were finally co with everybody, even Ender Just when Ender was beginning to make a real friend out of Alai Just when his life was finally getting livable
Ender reached down to pull Alai up from the bed
"Salamander Army's in contention, anyway," Alai said
Ender was so angry at the unfairness of the transfer that tears were co to his eyes Mustn't cry, he told himself
Alai saw the tears but had the grace not to say so "They're fartheads, Ender, they won't even let you take anything you own"
Ender grinned and didn't cry after all "Think I should strip and go naked?"
Alai laughed, too
On iht, alht of Valentine then and wanted to go hoo," he said
Alai hugged him back "I understand them, Ender You are the best of us Maybe they in a hurry to teach you everything"
"They don't want to teach ," Ender said "I wanted to learn what it was like to have a friend"
Alai nodded soberly "Always rinned "Go slice up the buggers"
"Yeah" Ender smiled back
Alai suddenly kissed Ender on the cheek and whispered in his ear, "Salaam" Then, red-faced, he turned away and walked to his own bed at the back of the barracks Ender guessed that the kiss and the ere soion, perhaps Orfor Alai alone Whatever it meant to Alai, Ender knew that it was sacred; that he had uncovered himself for Ender, as once Ender's , before they put the monitor in his neck, and she had put her hands on his head when she thought he was asleep, and prayed over him Ender had never spoken of that to anyone, not even to Mother, but had kept it as a ht that no one, not even he, could see or hear That hat Alai had given hiift so sacred that even Ender could not be allowed to understand what it meant
After such a thing nothing could be said Alai reached his bed and turned around to see Ender Their eyes held for only aThen Ender left