"Of course," said Human. "They're the keepers of the mothers, aren't they? But I warn you, it's dangerous to speak to the wives. Especially for you, because they honor you so much."
"If the fence comes down, I have to speak to the wives. If I can't speak to them, then the fence stays up, and Miro dies, and we'll have to obey the Congressional Order that all the humans of Lusitania must leave here." Ender did not tell them that the humans might well be killed. He always told the truth, but he didn't always tell it all.
"I'll take you to the wives," said Human.
Leaf-eater walked up to him and ran his hand derisively across Human's belly. "They named you right," he said. "You are a human, not one of us." Leaf-eater started to run away, but Arrow and Cups held him.
"I'll take you," said Human. "Now, stop the fence and save Miro's life."
Ender turned to the Bishop.
"It's not my decision," said the Bishop. "It's Bosquinha's."
"My oath is to the Starways Congress," said Bosquinha, "but I'll perjure myself this minute to save the lives of my people. I say the fence comes down and we try to make the most of our rebellion."
"If we can preach to the piggies," said the Bishop.
"I'll ask them when I meet with the wives," said Ender. "I can't promise more than that."
"Bishop!" cried Novinha. "Pipo and Libo already died beyond that fence!"
"Bring it down," said the Bishop. "I don't want to see this colony end with God's work here still untouched." He smiled grimly. "But Os Venerados had better be made saints pretty soon. We'll need their help."
"Jane," murmured Ender.
"That's why I love you," said Jane. "You can do anything, as long as I set up the circumstances just right."
"Cut off the ansible and turn off the fence, please," said Ender.
"Done," she said.
Ender ran for the fence, climbed over it. With the piggies' help he lifted Miro to the top and let his rigid body drop into the waiting arms of the Bishop, the Mayor, Dom Crist o, and Novinha. Navio was jogging down the slope right behind Dona Crist . Whatever they could do to help Miro would be done.
Ouanda was climbing the fence.
"Go back," said Ender. "We've already got him over."
"If you're going to see the wives," said Ouanda, "I'm going with you. You need my help."
Ender had no answer to that. She dropped down and came to Ender.
Navio was kneeling by Miro's body. "He climbed the fence?" he said. "There's nothing in the books for that. It isn't possible. Nobody can bear enough pain to get his head right through the field."
"Will he live?" demanded Novinha.
"How should I know?" said Navio, impatiently stripping away Miro's clothing and attaching sensors to him. "Nobody covered this in medical school."
Ender noticed that the fence was shaking again. Ela was climbing over. "I don't need your help," Ender said.
"It's about time somebody who knows something about xenobiology got to see what's going on," she retorted.
"Stay and look after your brother," said Ouanda.
Ela looked at her defiantly. "He's your brother, too," she said. "Now let's both see to it that if he dies, he didn't die for nothing."
The three of them followed Human and the other piggies into the forest.
Bosquinha and the Bishop watched them go. "When I woke up this morning," Bosquinha said, "I didn't expect to be a rebel before I went to bed."
"Nor did I ever imagine that the Speaker would be our ambassador to the piggies," said the Bishop.
"The question is," said Dom Crist o, "will we ever be forgiven for it."
"Do you think we're making a mistake?" snapped the Bishop.
"Not at all," said Dom Crist o. "I think we've taken a step toward something truly magnificent. But humankind almost never forgives true greatness."
"Fortunately," said the Bishop, "humankind isn't the judge that matters. And now I intend to pray for this boy, since medical science has obviously reached the boundary of its competence."
Chapter 17
The Wives
Find out how word got out that the Evacuation Fleet is armed with the Little Doctor. That is HIGHEST PRIORITY. Then find out who this so-called Demosthenes is. Calling the Evacuation Fleet a Second Xenocide is definitely a violation of the treason laws under the Code and if CSA can't find this voice and put a stop to it, I can't think of any good reason for CSA to continue to exist.
In the meantime, continue your evaluation of the files retrieved from Lusitania, It's completely irrational