A War of Gifts: An Ender Story (Other Tales from the Ender Universe)
Orson Scott Card
Language: English
Pages: 208
ISBN: 0765358999
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Orson Scott Card offers a Christmas gift to his millions of fans with A War of Gifts, a short novel set during Ender's first years at the Battle School where it is forbidden to celebrate religious holidays.
The children come from many nations, many religions; while they are being trained for war, religious conflict between them is not on the curriculum. But Dink Meeker, one of the older students, doesn't see it that way. He thinks that giving gifts isn't exactly a religious observation, and on Sinterklaas Day he tucks a present into another student's shoe.
This small act of rebellion sets off a battle royal between the students and the staff, but some surprising alliances form when Ender comes up against a new student, Zeck Morgan. The War over Santa Claus will force everyone to make a choice.
of Battle School,” said Dink. “If we put it to a vote,” said one of the other boys, “he’d be gone in a second. What a waste of space.” “A vote,” said Flip. “What a military idea.” “Go stick your finger in a dike,” the boy answered. “So now we’re anti-Dutch,” said Dink. “They can’t help it if they still believe in Santa Claus,” said an American kid. “Sinterklaas,” said Dink. “Lives in Spain, not the North Pole. Has a friend who carries his bag—Black Piet.” “Friend?” said a kid from South
“Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Papa Noël, Sinterklaas, they may have begun with a Christian feast day, but they’re national now, and people with no religion at all still celebrate the holiday. It’s the day of gift-giving, right? December twenty-fifth, whether you’re a believing Christian or not. They can keep us from being religious, but they can’t stop us from giving gifts on Santa Claus day.” Some of them were laughing. Some were thinking. “You’re going to get in such deep doodoo,” said one.
made you into. The Zeck who isn’t really here. Doesn’t really exist.” Zeck heard him without hearing. “And that’s why you have to get home,” said Wiggin. “Because without you there, he’ll have to find somebody else to purify, won’t he? Do you have a brother? A sister? Some other kid in the congregation?” “He never touched any other kid,” murmured Zeck. “I’m the impure one.” “Oh, I know. It’s your mother, isn’t it? Do you think he’ll try to purify your mother?” At Wiggin’s cue, Zeck started
little kid and then blames the kid for it, I think that’s exactly where Satan lives.” The urge to cry was apparently going to win. Zeck could hardly get the words out. “I have to go home.” “And do what?” asked Wiggin. “Stand between your mother and father until your father finally loses control and kills you?” “If that’s what it takes!” “You know my biggest fear?” said Wiggin. “I don’t care about your fear,” said Zeck. “As much as I hate my brother, what I’m afraid of is that I’m just like
men. “My name,” she said, “is Agnes O’Toole.” “He doesn’t care,” said Bridegan. Zeck extended his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Agnes O’Toole.” Didn’t Bridegan understand the obligation of kindness and courtesy that all men owed to all women, since women’s destiny was to go down into the valley of the shadow of death in order to bring more souls into the world to become purified so they could serve God? What tragic ignorance. “I’ll wait out here,” said Bridegan. “If that’s all right with