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"Everything is recorded" Then Akbar let go of Mother's wrist, turned her around, and gave her a gentle nudge up the ramp

Alessandra couldn't help herself She gave one short, sharp laugh

Mother whirled around, her face full of rage Looking so much like Grandht we left her behind, but look, we brought her with us"

It was the cruelest thing Alessandra could have said, that was plain Mother was dumbstruck with the pain of it Yet it was also the simple truth, and Alessandra hadn't said it to hurt her mother, it had simply spilled out of her mouth the moment she realized it was so

"Good-bye, Mother," said Alessandra "Have lots of babies with Adan Be happy all the tin Akbar take her down the ramp

Ender was there--he had co her, and Alessandra hadn't realized it He had come for her after all

She and Akbar reached the base of the ramp; she noticed that Ender did not set foot on it

"Ensign Akbar," said Ender, "you're an He will believe her, if only to have peace with her"

"I'ht," he said "But what can I do?"

"You can resign your commission Both by real time and relativistic time, your term of enlistment has expired"

"I can't resign in e," said Akbar

"But you're not in e," said Ender "You're in a port that is under the authority of the Hegeovernor"

"He won't let it happen," said Akbar

"Yes he will," said Ender "He will obey the law, because it's the sae If he breaks it against you, then it can be broken against him He knows that"

"And if he didn't," said Akbar, "you're telling hiht now"