Page 482 - Enders_Game_Full_Book
P. 482
Mandachuva stood absolutely still.
"What do you mean?" said Ouanda. "You're making him upset."
"I expect he'll be more upset before this day is over," said Ender. "Come, Ouanda, take us to the fence where Miro is."
"What good will it do if we can't get over the fence?" asked Bosquinha.
"Call for Navio," said Ender.
"I'll go get him," said Dona Crist . "You forget that no one can call anybody."
"I said, what good will it do?" demanded Bosquinha.
"I told you before," said Ender. "If you decide to rebel, we can sever the ansible connection. And then we can turn off the fence."
"Are you trying to use Miro's plight to force my hand?" asked the Bishop.
"Yes," said Ender. "He's one of your flock, isn't he? So leave the ninety-nine, shepherd, and come with us to save the one that's lost."
"What's happening?" asked Mandachuva.
"You're leading us to the fence," said Ender. "Hurry, please."
They filed down the stairs from the Bishop's chambers to the Cathedral below. Ender could hear the Bishop behind him, grumbling about perverting scripture to serve private ends.
They passed down the aisle of the Cathedral, Mandachuva leading the way. Ender noticed that the Bishop paused near the altar, watching the small furred creature as the humans trooped after him. Outside the Cathedral, the Bishop caught up with him. "Tell me, Speaker," he said, "just as a matter of opinion, if the fence came down, if we rebelled against Starways Congress, would all the rules about contact with the piggies be ended?"
"I hope so," said Ender. "I hope that there'll be no more unnatural barriers between us and them."
"Then," said the Bishop, "we'd be able to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Little Ones, wouldn't we? There'd be no rule against it."
"That's right," said Ender. "They might not be converted, but there'd be no rule against trying."
"I have to think about this," said the Bishop. "But perhaps, my dear infidel, your rebellion will open the door to the conversion of a great nation. Perhaps God led you here after all."