Page 489 - Enders_Game_Full_Book

"One more thing," said Ender. "At least one of you, as an interpreter. Or can she speak Stark?"
Mandachuva relayed Ender's request. The answer was brief, and Mandachuva didn't like it. He refused to translate it. It was Human who explained. "She says that you may have any interpreter you like, as long as it's me."
"Then we'd like to have you as our interpreter," said Ender.
"You must enter the birthing place first," said Human. "You are the invited one."
Ender stepped out into the open and strode into the moonlight. He could hear Ela and Ouanda following him, and Human padding along behind. Now he could see that Shouter was not the only female here. Several faces were in every doorway. "How many are there?" asked Ender.
Human didn't answer. Ender turned to face him. "How many wives are there?" Ender repeated.
Human still did not answer. Not until Shouter sang again, more loudly and commandingly. Only then did Human translate. "In the birthing place, Speaker, it is only to speak when a wife asks you a question."
Ender nodded gravely, then walked back to where the other males waited at the edge of the clearing. Ouanda and Ela followed him. He could hear Shouter singing behind him, and now he understood why the males referred to her by that name-- her voice was enough to make the trees shake. Human caught up with Ender and tugged at his clothing. "She says why are you going, you haven't been given permission to go. Speaker, this is a very bad thing, she's very angry--"
"Tell her that I did not come to give instructions or to receive instructions. If she won't treat me as an equal, I won't treat her as an equal."
"I can't tell her that," said Human.
"Then she'll always wonder why I left, won't she?"
"This is a great honor, to be called among the wives!"
"It is also a great honor for the Speaker of the Dead to come and visit them."
Human stood still for a few moments, rigid with anxiety. Then he turned and spoke to Shouter. She in turn fell silent. There was not a sound in the glen.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Speaker," murmured Ouanda.
"I'm improvising," said Ender. "How do you think it's going?"