The Swarm by Orson Scott Card Page B

other crewmen who’ve already signed up,” said Victor. “Fifteen men from this crew, Imala. Do you know how I felt when they left? Did you see the look of pride in Arjuna’s eyes?”
    She made a face. “Is that what this is about? Earning Arjuna’s respect? Having him feel proud of you?”
    â€œOf course not,” said Victor. “But when I think of Arjuna, I think of your father, and I imagine him—”
    â€œMy father?” said Imala, recoiling at the word. “What does he have to do with this?”
    â€œHe doesn’t approve of me, Imala. He thinks I’m some ignorant rockhead who’s stolen his daughter away from the comforts and safety of Earth. Me being here on this ship and not joining up is just one more reason in his mind why I’m not good enough for you. He probably thinks I’m a coward.”
    She laughed. It wasn’t the reaction he was expecting, and it rather annoyed him. He could feel his face getting hot.
    â€œWhy is that funny?” he said.
    â€œBecause you’re so bullheaded sometimes,” she said. “We’ve talked about this. There’s no way my father thinks you’re a coward. You took on the whole Formic army, you went into the belly of the beast, right to the heart of the scout ship. Alone. Without any weapons. But even if you hadn’t done any of that, it wouldn’t matter one iota anyway because I don’t care what my father thinks.”
    â€œYes, well I do,” said Victor.
    â€œAnd you think enlisting is going to change his opinion of you?” said Imala. “You’re not Apache, Vico. That’s the issue. That’s what my father cares about, me staying in the tribe, continuing the line, the traditions, the culture, having little Apache grandchildren look to him as chief. You can’t alter your DNA and meet that expectation, so get over it. You are what you are.”
    â€œFine. But I don’t like that you have to choose between me and your family.”
    â€œThat’s what people do when they get married, Vico. They fly the coop. They leave their parents. My parents will always love me. That isn’t going to change, even with you at my side. My father doesn’t know you. With time he will, he’ll see in you what I see, and he’ll realize why I love you.
    â€œBut that’s not what this is about,” said Imala. “Or at least not completely. This is about you. You’re afraid.”
    â€œAfraid?” said Victor. “Of what?”
    â€œThat we’ll lose the war,” said Imala, “that the Formics will win, that everything we did before to keep the world safe will be for naught and you’ll have done nothing to prevent it. You felt the same way last time and it nagged at you and needled you and kept you awake at night until you were so uneasy that you threw yourself right into the middle of it. And I stood with you, even when it seemed ridiculous and insane and the most unsafe course of action possible. I went along and I supported you.”
    â€œYou didn’t just go along, Imala. You did as much as anyone else. We would have lost if not for you. Mazer says so, and he’s right.”
    She was quiet a moment and then she shrugged. “All right. Then I’ll enlist.”
    Victor blinked. For a moment he didn’t know what to say. “You can’t be serious.”
    â€œWhy not? You said it yourself. The IF needs help in all fields. I’m sure that includes finance?”
    â€œFinance?”
    â€œAuditing, tracking, monitoring, what I did at the Lunar Trade Department before the war. The IF is currently moving more resources and cash into the Belt to shipbuilders than we’ve ever seen in the history of manufacturing. That’s a massive logistical and financial undertaking. They need an army of people to manage that. The Fleet would probably take me in a hot second.”
    Victor stared