But now there was nothing more to say to him. She wouldn't waste time with idle threats. She'd show him what she could do to those who wanted India for an enemy.
He rose to his feet. "I'm sorry that I didn't anticipate your offer," said Peter. "I wouldn't have wasted your time. I had no desire to embarrass you. I thought you would have understood my situation better."
"I'm just one woman. India is just one country."
He winced just a little. He didn't like having his foolish, arrogant words thrown in his face. Well, you'll have more than that thrown at you, Ender's Brother.
"I brought two others to see you," said Peter. "If you're willing."
He opened a door and Colonel Graff and a man she didn't know entered the room. "Virlomi, I think you know Minister Graff. And this is Mazer Rackham."
She inclined her head, showing no surprise.
They sat down and explained their offer.
"I already have the love and allegiance of the greatest nation on Earth," said Virlomi. "And I have not been defeated by the most terrible enemies that China and the Muslim world could hurl against me. Why should I wish to run and hide in a colony somewhere?"
"It's a noble work," said Graff. "It's not hiding, it's building."
"Termites build," said Virlomi.
"And hyenas tear," said Graff.
"I have no need for or interest in the service you offer," said Virlomi.
"No," said Graff, "you just don't see your need yet. You always were hard to get to change your way of looking at things. It's what held you back in Battle School, Virlomi."
"You're not my teacher now," said Virlomi.
"Well, you're certainly wrong about one thing, whether I'm your teacher or not," said Graff.
She waited.
"You have not yet faced the most terrible enemies that China and the Muslim world can hurl against you."
"Do you think Han Tzu can get into India again? I'm not Tikal Chapekar."
"And he's not the Politburo or Snow Tiger."
"He's Ender's Jeeshmate," she said in mock awe.
"He's not caught up in his own mystique," said Rackham, who had not spoken till now. "For your own sake, Virlomi, take a good hard look in the mirror. You're what megalomania looks like in the early stages."
"I have no ambition for myself," said Virlomi.
"If you define India as whatever you conceive it to be," said Rackham, "you'll wake up some terrible morning and discover that it is not what you need it to be."
"And you say this from your vast experience of governing...what country was it, now, Mr. Rackham?"
Rackham only smiled. "Pride, when poked, gets petty."
"Was that already a proverb?" asked Virlomi. "Or should I write it down?"
"The offer stands," said Graff. "It's irrevocable as long as you live."
"Why don't you make the same offer to Peter?" asked Virlomi. "He's the one who needs to take the long voyage."
She decided she wasn't going to get a better exit line than that, so she walked slowly, gracefully, to the door. No one spoke as she departed.