Page 1758 - Enders_Game_Full_Book
P. 1758
Even as they were reading Locke's essay detailing how China had made promises to both Thailand and India, and would attack now that both armies were fully exposed and, in India's case, overextended, they received emails that contained the same essay, pushed into the system on an urgent basis. That meant it had already been cleared at the top-Chapekar knew what Locke was alleging.
Therefore, their emailed plans for immediate withdrawal of Indian troops from Burma had reached Chapekar at exactly the time when he knew they would be necessary.
"Toguro," breathed Sayagi. "We look like geniuses."
"We are geniuses," someone grumbled, and everyone laughed.
"Does anyone think," asked the Tamil, "we'll hear another pep talk from our Belgian friend about how well the war is going?"
Almost as an answer, they heard gunfire outside.
Petra felt a thrill of hope run through her: Achilles tried to make a run for it, and he was shot.
But then a more practical idea replaced her hope: Achilles foresaw this possibility, and has his own forces already in place to cover his escape.
And finally, despair: When he comes for me, will it be to kill me, or take me with him? More gunfire.
"Maybe," said Sayagi, "we ought to disperse."
He was walking toward the door when it opened and Achilles came in, followed by six Sikhs carrying automatic weapons. "Have a seat, Sayagi," said Achilles. "I'm afraid we have a hostage situation here. Someone made some libelous assertions about me on the nets, and when I declined to be detained during the inquiry, shooting began. Fortunately, I have some friends, and while we're waiting for them to provide me with transportation to a neutral location, you are my guarantors of safety."
Immediately, the two Battle School grads who were Sikhs stood up and said, to Achilles' soldiers, "Are we under threat of death from you?"
"As long as you serve the oppressor," one of them answered.
"He is the oppressor!" one of the Sikh Battle Schoolers said, pointing to Achilles.
"Do you think the Chinese will be any kinder to our people than New Delhi has?" said the other. "Remember how the Chinese treated Tibet and Taiwan! That is our future, because of him!"