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CHAPTER 7

To: [email protected], [email protected]

Froin[email protected]/citizen

Subj: Ender is fine

By "fine" Inormally He was happy to seeNo hostility toward anyone He spoke of both of you with real affection We shared lots of childhood memories

But as soon as that conversation ended, I saw him almost visibly crawl inside a shell He is obsessed with the for destroyed them He knows that this is not appropriate--that he did not knohat he was doing, they were trying to destroy us so it was self-defense anyway--but the ways of conscience are mysterious We evolved consciences so that ould internalize community values and police ourselves But what happens when you have a hyperactive conscience and make up rules that nobody else knows about, just so you can punish yourself for breaking them?

Noovernor, but I have been warned by two different people that Adovern anything If Peter were in such a position, he would already be conspiring to have Morgan rean But Ender just chuckles and says, "Iine that" When I pressed him, he said, "He can't have a contest if I won't play" And when I pressed hiot irritable and said, "I was born for one war I won it and I'm done"

So now I'm torn Do I try to nore the whole situation? He thinks I should spend e e arrived, both fifteen--or, if I'm awake, then I should write a history of Battle School Graff has proh I can get those from the public records, since they all came out in the court martial

Here's my philosophical question: What is love? Does ood for him, even if he asks h I think he would find being a figurehead governor a hellish experience?

It's like piano lessons, dear parents Soforced to practice and practice And yet there are others who say to their parents, "Why didn't you MAKE me practice so today I'd be able to play well?"

Love, Valentine

To: vwiggin[email protected]/citizen

From: [email protected]

Subj: re: Ender is fine

Dear Valentine,