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But ood, said another part of his mind The part that was keenly aware that their bodies were still pressed together, that his fingers were pressing gently against the back of her shirt,the skin and body under the cloth

"Your er than her," said Ender "Your grandet free"

That did it Alessandra pulled away frorandmother?"

"Only what your mother told me herself," said Ender "In front of you"

He could see on her face that she reer subsided But she did not cohta half-meter away A meter would be even better

"My randmother," said Alessandra

"Of course not," said Ender "But the two of you have lived together your whole life Very close all the time"

"I'et away from her," said Alessandra "I wouldn't use you like that" But her face showed so him--that her whole visit to him was prompted by her mother

"I was just thinking," said Ender, "that even the cheerful fairyland she likes to pretend she lives in--"

"When did you--" she began, and then stopped herself, because of course Dorabella had done her queen-of-the-fairies bit several tiht of the other colonists

"I was thinking," said Ender, "that after such a long while, you ht not want to spend the rest of your life in her fairyland Maybe your world is better for you than her i She's made a lovely cocoon for you, but maybe you still want to break out of it and fly"

Alessandra s

tood there, her hand to her mouth Then tears ca what she wanted I thought it was my own idea, but it was hers, it wasI wanted you to likehereI wasn't getting away fro her"

"You were?" Ender said, trying to act as if he hadn't already guessed

"She told me just what to do, how far to" Alessandra started unbuttoning her blouse, tears flowing She earing nothing under it "What you were going to see, what you could touch, but no more"