First meetings in the Enderverse

given.”
    “You mean,” said Graff, “leverage to coerce the family?”
    “Or entice,” said Sillain.
    “Poles are stubborn people,” said the Russian general. “It’s in the Slavic character.”
    “We’re so close,” said Graff, “to tests that are well over ninety percent accurate in predicting military ability.”
    “Do you have a test to measure leadership?” asked Chamrajnagar.
    “That’s one of the components,” said Graff.
    “Because this boy has it, off the charts,” said Chamrajnagar. “I’ve never even seen the charts, and I know that.”
    “The real training ground for leadership is in the game,” said Graff. “But yes, I think this boy will do well at it.”
    “If he goes,” said the Russian.
    “I think,” said Chamrajnagar, “that Colonel Sillain should not carry out the next step.”
    This left Sillain sputtering. Helena wanted to smile, but instead she said, “Colonel Sillain is the team leader, and according to protocol…”
    “He has already been compromised,” said Chamrajnagar. “I make no criticism of Colonel Sillain, please. I don’t know which of us would have fared any better. But the boy made him back down, and I don’t think there is a helpful relationship.”
    Sillain was careerist enough to know how to hand them his head, when asked for it. “Whatever is best to accomplish the mission, of course.” Helena knew how he had to be seething at Chamrajnagar, but he showed no sign of it.
    “The question Colonel Sillain asked still remains,” said Graff. “What authority will the negotiator be given?”
    “All the authority he needs,” said the Russian general.
    “But that’s precisely what we don’t know,” said Graff.
    Chamrajnagar answered. “I think my colleague from the Strategos’s office is saying that whatever inducement the negotiator feels is appropriate will be supported by the Strategos. Certainly the Polemarch’s office has the same view.”
    “I don’t think the boy is that important,” said Graff. “Battle School exists because of the need to begin military training during childhood in order to build appropriate habits of thought and movement. But there has been enough data to suggest-”
    “We know this story,” said the Russian general.
    “Let’s not begin this argument again here,” said Chamrajnagar.
    “There is a definite fall-off in outcomes after the trainees reach adulthood,” said Graff. “That’s a fact, however much we may not like the implications.”
    “They know more, but do worse?” said Chamrajnagar. “It sounds wrong. It is hard to believe, and even if we believe it, it is hard to interpret.”
    “It means that we don’t have to have this boy, because we won’t have to wait for a child to grow to adulthood.”
    The Russian general was scornful. “Put our war in the hands of children? I hope we are never that desperate.”
    There was a long silence, and then Chamrajnagar spoke. Apparently he had been receiving instructions through his earpiece. “The office of the Polemarch believes that because his data Captain Graff speaks of is incomplete, prudence suggests we act as if we do, in fact, have to have this boy. Time is growing short, and it is impossible to know whether he might be our last best chance.”
    “The Strategos concurs,” said the Russian general. “Yes,” said Graff. “As I said, the results are not final.”
    “So,” said Col. Sillain. “Full authority. For whoever it is who negotiates.”
    “I think,” said Chamrajnagar, “that the director of Battle School has already demonstrated whom he has the most confidence in right now, planetside.”
    All eyes went to Capt. Graff. “I would be glad to have Captain Rudolf accompany me. I believe we have it on record that this Polish boy prefers to have her present.”

    This time when the Fleet people came, Father and Mother were prepared. Their friend Magda was a lawyer, and even though she was forbidden, as a noncompliant, to practice law, she sat between them on the sofa.

    John Paul was not in the room, however. “Don’t let them bully the child,” Magda had said, and that was it. Mother and Father immediately banned him from the room, so he didn’t even get to see them come in.
    He could listen, however, from the kitchen. He realized at once that the man he didn’t like, the colonel, was not there, though the woman was. A new man was with her now. His voice didn’t have the sound of lying in it. Captain Graff, he was