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"You didn't say anything"

"This is the first time I've seen you since I finished it Val, think, please"

"Don't patronize me!"

"Feeling patronized isn't thinking," he said, sounding irritated at last That e me until you understand ed me You think I've treated Alessandra badly, but I haven't I've treated her extremely well I'ht thing You don't even bother to think what the right thing is before you decide that I' it"

"What is it that I think you're not doing that you are doing? That girl is pining for you--"

"Her feelings Not her needs Not what's actually good for her You think the worst danger she faces is having her feelings hurt"

Valentine felt the righteous anger bleed out of her What danger was he talking about? What need did Alessandra have, beyond her need for Ender? What was Valentine ?

Ender put his ared her, and thenValentine had no choice but to follow

He rassy square in the middle of the science complex--really, just four one-story structures where the handful of scientists worked on the biology and technology that kept the colonists and the colony running Now, though, with the newco with people, and Ender had already asked the fore-men of the crews to s

hift their priorities and get additional science buildings The noise of building wasn't deafening, because there were feer tools But the calling out of instructions, the shouted warnings, the pounding of axes and haether The sound of deliberate, welcoe

Did Ender really know exactly where the Toscanos would be? He certainly walked straight toward the place And now that Valentine thought about it--analyzed, yes, Ender--she realized that Endertill the end of their visit, until the shuttle was loading up for the return trip Not quite the last one, but the last that wouldn't be full of marines and crew The last shuttle with rooers

He cut it rather close, even so Alessandra was standing forlorn at the botto her totoward her and broke away froirl be any more obvious?

She flung her arly In fact, Valentine was surprised at the way he held her, nuzzling her shoulder with real affection What did heto think he meant? Ender, are you really that insensitive?

When she practically jumped into his arms, Ender took a step back to bear the sudden et his face down close to her ear

"Sixteen is old enough to join a colony without parental permission," he said softly