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Ender reame was trivial, coht of his life to this stupid, stupid game?

"We don't accomplish that much anyway," Ender said He started to leave

Alai stopped him "They scare you, too? They slap you up in the bathrooun up you bung?"

"No," Ender said

"You still my friend?" asked Alai, more quietly

"Yes"

"Then I still you friend, Ender, and I stay here and practice with you" The older boys caain, but fewer of them were conized Salamander uniforms Even a couple of Rats They didn't take names this time Instead, they mocked and shouted and ridiculed as the Launchies tried to et to a few of the boys

"Listen to them," Ender said to the other boys "Remember the words If you ever want to make your enemy crazy, shout that kind of stuff at thes, to b

e et mad"

Shen took the idea to heart, and after each jibe froroup of four Launchies recite the words, loudly, five or six ti the taunts like nursery rhymes, some of the older boys launched theht

The flash suits were designed for wars fought with harht; they offered little protection and seriously ha in nullo Half the boys were flashed, anyway, and couldn't fight; but the stiffness of their suits made theather in one corner of the roohed at them even more, and some who had waited by the wall caroup in retreat

Ender and Alai decided to throw a frozen soldier in the face of an enemy The frozen Launchy struck helmet first, and the two caromed off each other The older boy clutched his chest where the helmet had hit him, and screamed in pain

The mockery was over The rest of the older boys launched themselves to enter the battle Ender didn't really haveaithout so haphazardly, uncoordinatedly; they had never worked together before, while Ender's little practice arh there were only a dozen of theether

"Go nova!" shouted Ender The other boys laughed They gathered into three groups, feet together, squatting, holding hands so they foro around them and make for the door Now!"

At his signal, the three stars burst apart, each boy launching in a different direction, but angled so he could rebound off a wall and head for the door Since all of the enemy were in the middle of the room, where course