Xenocide (Ender Wiggins Saga)

freedom from the danger of the descolada, and safe dispersal for the genetic heritage of the other species of ramen here. A week ago, it looked impossible. Now there's hope."
    " Graças a deus ," said the Bishop.
    Quara laughed.
    Everyone looked at her.
    "I'm sorry," she said. "I was just thinking-- I heard a prayer, not many weeks ago. A prayer to Os Venerados, Grandfather Gusto and Grandmother Cida. That if there wasn't a way to solve the impossible problems facing us, they would petition God to open up the way."
    "Not a bad prayer," said the Bishop. "And perhaps God has granted it."
    "I know," said Quara. "That's what I was thinking. What if all this stuff about Outspace and Inspace, what if it was never real before. What if it only came to be true because of that prayer?"
    "What of it?" asked the Bishop.
    "Well, don't you think that would be funny?"
    Apparently no one did.

Chapter 16
 
Voyage
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    < Will it work? The box you made for them?>
    
    
    
    
    
    
        
 
    Qing-jao listened to them as they laid the choice before her.
    "Why should I care what you decide?" she said, when they were finished. "The gods will laugh at you."
    Father shook his head. "No they won't, my daughter, Gloriously Bright. The gods care nothing more for Path than any other world. The people of Lusitania are on the verge of creating a virus that can free us all. No more rituals, no more bondage to the disorder in our brains. So I ask you again, if we can do it, should we? It would cause disorder here. Wang-mu and I have planned how we'll proceed, how we'll announce what we are doing so that people will understand it, so there'll be a chance that the godspoken won't be slaughtered, but can step down gently from their privileges."
    "Privileges are nothing," said Qing-jao. "You taught me that yourself. They're only the people's way of expressing their reverence for the gods."
    "Alas, my daughter, if only I knew that more of the godspoken shared that humble view of our station. Too many of them think that it's their right to be acquisitive and oppressive, because the gods speak to them and not to others."
    "Then the gods will punish them. I'm not afraid of your virus."
    "But you are, Qing-jao, I see it."
    "How can I tell my father that he does not see what he claims to see? I can only say that I must be blind."
    "Yes, my Qing-jao, you are. Blind on purpose. Blind to your own heart. Because you tremble even now. You have never been sure that I was wrong. From the time Jane showed us the true nature of the speaking of the gods, you've been unsure of what was