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"Just between you and ave the Battle School an enereen brown"

Ender despaired He already had nothing going for hirossly under-trained, small, inexperienced, doomed to be resented for early advance friend An outcast in Salamander Army, and she had just linked hiood day's work For afaces, he iined their bodies covered with hair, their teeth pointed for tearing A in this place? Are all the others ani only to devour?

Then he remembered Alai In every ar

Suddenly, though no one said to be quiet, the laughter stopped and the group fell silent Ender turned to the door A boy stood there, tall and slender, with beautiful black eyes and slender lips that hinted at refine inside Ender I would see as those eyes see

"Who are you?" asked the boy quietly

"Ender Wiggin, sir," Ender said "Reassigned from launch to Salamander Army" He held out the orders

The boy took the paper in a swift, sure gin?" he asked

"Almost seven"

Still quietly, he said, "I asked how old you are, not how old you almost are"

"I am six years, nine months, and twelve days old"

"How long have you been working in the battleroom?"

"A few months, now My aim is better"

"Any training in battle maneuvers? Have you ever been part of a toon? Have you ever carried out a joint exercise?"

Ender had never heard of such things He shook his head

Madrid looked at him steadily "I see As you will quickly learn, the officers in command of this school, ainning to ee froames We have surprised Rat and Scorpion and Hound, and we are ready to play for leadership in the gaiven such a useless, untrained, hopeless specimen of underdevelopment as yourself"