"I assume you're telling me this because he somehow claims that he is the heir of the hive queens."
"Which is absolutely absurd because ours is the first colony that was not founded on the ruins of formic civilization."
"So how does he manage it?" asked Ender.
"He claims that the Indian population--eighty percent of the total--are merely trying to reestablish here the exact culture they had on Earth. While he and the others are the ones who are trying to create something new. He really does have the gall to call his little movement the 'Natives of Ganges.' And he says we Indians are like the jackals who have settled other worlds--destroying the natives and then stealing all that they accomplished."
"And people buy this?"
"Oddly enough," she said, "not that many do. Most of the non-Indian colonists are trying to get along."
"But some believe him," said Ender.
"Millions."
"There aren't that many colonists," said Valentine.
"He isn't just playing to the local crowd," said Virlomi. "He sends his writings out by ansible. There are chapters of the Natives of Ganges in most of the major cities of Earth. Even in India. Millions, as I told you."
Valentine sighed. "I saw them referred to only as 'the Natives' on the nets and I wasn't interested. That originated here?"
"They regard The Hive Queen as their scripture, and the formics as their spiritual forebears," said Virlomi. "On Earth, their doctrine is almost the opposite of what Randall preaches here. They claim that the FPE should be abolished because it erases all the 'genuine,' 'native' cultures of Earth. They refuse to speak Common. They make a big show of following native religions."
"While here, Randall condemns your people for doing exactly that," said Ender. "Preserving your culture from Earth."
"Yes," said Virlomi. "But he claims it isn't inconsistent--this is not where Indian culture originated. It's a new place, and so he and his 'Natives of Ganges' are creating the real native culture of this world, instead of a warmed-over copy of an old one from Earth."
Ender chuckled.
"It's funny to you," Virlomi said.
"Not at all," said Ender. "I'm just thinking that Graff really was such a genius. Not as smart as the kids he trained in Battle School, but...with Randall just an infant in his mother's arms, he knew that they would cause trouble."
"And sent you to save me," she said.
"I doubt you need saving," said Ender.
"No, I don't," she said. "I've already dealt with it. I provoked him into assaulting me in my house. It's on vid and we've already held the trial and sentenced him to be exiled. He's going back to Earth--along with any of his malcontents who want to go with him."
Ender shook his head. "And it doesn't occur to you that that's exactly what he wants you to do?"
"Of course it did. But I also don't care, as long as I don't have to deal with him."
Ender sighed. "Of course you care, Virlomi. If he already has a following there, and then he returns to Earth as an exile from what he calls his 'native world,' then you have just sown the seed that can bring down the FPE and restore the Earth to the miserable chaos of war and hatred that Peter Wiggin ended such a short time ago."
"That's not my problem," said Virlomi.
"Our generation is gone from power, Virlomi," said Ender, "except in a few remote colonies. Peter is dead. His successors are lackluster placeholders. Do you think they'll be competent to deal with this Randall Firth?"
Virlomi hesitated. "No."
"So if you knowingly infect someone with a virus that you know their body can't fight off, have you not murdered them?"
Virlomi buried her face in her hands. "I know," she said. "I tried not to know, but I know."
"What I can't yet determine," said Valentine, "is why your first words to us were a protest that you hadn't told anyone that Ender was coming. Why would that matter?"
Virlomi raised her face. "Because at the trial and ever since then, he has been using you. And linking himself to his monster of a father. Who he thinks his father is."