Page 370 - Enders_Game_Full_Book
P. 370
"In a place like this, that would include conversion to Catholicism."
"San Angelo made me promise years ago that if I ever got religion, it would be his." "Somehow that does not sound like a sincere protestation of faith."
"That's because I haven't any."
The Ceifeiro laughed as if he knew better, and insisted on showing Ender around the monastery and the schools before getting to Ender's questions. Ender didn't mind-- he wanted to see how far San Angelo's ideas had come in the centuries since his death. The schools seemed pleasant enough, and the quality of education was high; but it was dark before the Ceifeiro led him back to the monastery and into the small cell that he and his wife, the Aradora, shared.
Dona Crist was already there, creating a series of grammatical exercises on the terminal between the beds. They waited until she found a stopping place before addressing her.
The Ceifeiro introduced him as Speaker Andrew. "But he seems to find it hard to call me Dom Crist o."
"So does the Bishop," said his wife. "My true name is Detestai o Pecado e Fazei o Direito." Hate Sin and Do the Right, Ender translated. "My husband's name lends itself to a lovely shortening-- Amai, love ye. But mine? Can you imagine shouting to a friend, Oi! Detestai! " They all laughed. "Love and Loathing, that's who we are, husband and wife. What will you call me, if the name Christian is too good for me?"
Ender looked at her face, beginning to wrinkle enough that someone more critical than he might call her old. Still, there was laughter in her smile and a vigor in her eyes that made her seem much younger, even younger than Ender. "I would call you Beleza, but your husband would accuse me of flirting with you."
"No, he would call me Beladona-- from beauty to poison in one nasty little joke. Wouldn't you, Dom Crist o?"
"It's my job to keep you humble."
"Just as it's my job to keep you chaste," she answered.
At that, Ender couldn't help looking from one bed to the other.
"Ah, another one who's curious about our celibate marriage," said the Ceifeiro.
"No," said Ender. "But I remember San Angelo urging husband and wife to share a single bed."
"The only way we could do that," said the Aradora, "is if one of us slept at night and the other in the day."