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"Why? What were you laughing at?"

"Everything," said Valentine "The whole picture-taking thing before we left, and Morgan greeting us so war to stab you in the back, and Ensign Akbar's hero worship despite your insistence that you were just 'Mr Wiggin'--which is, of course, an affectation too I was laughing at the whole of it"

"I see that all of that is funny, if you look at it that way I was too busy to be a to stay awake and say all the right things"

"So ere you laughing at?"

"It was pure delight Delight and relief I'e, it's Morgan's ship, and I'm a free man for the first time in my life"

"Man?" asked Valentine "You're still shorter than me"

"But Val," said Ender, "I have to shave every week now, or the whiskers show"

They laughed again, just a little Then Valentine spoke the co down the barrier between their beds Ender stripped down to his underwear, crawled under a single sheet--nothing more was needed in this climate-controlled environment--and in moments he was asleep

CHAPTER 8

To: GovDes[email protected]/voy

From: [email protected]

Fwd: Report on Planet Making

Dear Ender,

I was conflicted about whether to send you this On the one hand, it is fascinating, even heartening; on the other hand, I know you have suffered greatly because of the destruction of the forht be painful I risk the pain--your pain, so it was not much risk to me, was it?--because if there is anyone who should be receiving these reports, it is you

--Hyrum