“So you got my letter.”

“Pathetically easy cipher. Anybody with half a brain could get it. Your code was just to type an obvious version of your nickname with your fingers moved one row higher on the keyboard.”

“And yet only you, of all the thousands who access the nets, figured out it was from me.”

Virlomi sighed.

“Just promise me this,” said Han.

“No.”

“Hear the promise first,” said Han.

“Why should I promise you anything?”

“So I don’t preemptively invade India again?”

“With what army?”

“I didn’t mean now.”

“What’s the promise you want me to make?”

“That you won’t marry Alai, either.”

“A Hindu, marrying the Caliph of all Islam? I never knew you had such a sense of humor.”

“He’ll offer,” said Han.

“Go home, Han. And, by the way, we saw the choppers arrive and let them pass. We also asked the Muslim oppressors not to shoot you down, either.”

“I appreciated that. I thought it meant you liked me, at least a little.”

“I do like you,” said Virlomi. “I just don’t intend to let you diddle me.”

“I didn’t know a mere diddle was on the table.”

“Nothing’s on the table. Back to your chopper, Boy Emperor.”

“Virlomi, I beg you now. Let’s be friends, at least.”

“That would be nice. Someday, maybe.”

“Write to me. Get to know me.”

She shook her head, laughing, and walked back to her hut. Han Tzu walked back out into the fields as the night wind rose.

15

RATIFICATION

From: RadaghasteBellini%privado@presidência.br.gov
To: PeterWiggin%[email protected]
Re: Please consider carefully

If your goal is to establish world peace, my friend, why would you begin our Constitution with a deliberate act of provocation against two widely separated nations, one of which might call upon the whole weight of Islam against you?

Is peace to be founded on war after all? And if you did not have Julian Delphiki commanding 100,000 friendly African troops, would you attempt it?

From: PeterWiggin%[email protected]
To: RadaghasteBellini%privado@presidência.br.gov
Re: We must make it real

History is strewn with the corpses of attempted world governments. We must demonstrate immediately that we are serious, that we are capable, and that we are transformative.

And without Delphiki, I would follow your more prudent counsel, because I would not count on our African troops.

The ceremony was simple enough. Peter Wiggin, Felix Starman, Klaus Boom, and Radaghaste Bellini stood on a platform in Kiyagi, Rwanda. There was no attempt to bring in crowds of citizens to cheer; neither was there any kind of military presence. The audience consisted entirely of reporters.

Copies of the Constitution were provided on the spot. Felix Starman explained the new government very briefly; Radaghaste Bellini informed them of the unified military command; Klaus Boom explained the principles under which new nations could be admitted to the Free People of the Earth.

“No nation will be admitted that does not already provide human rights, including a free and universal adult franchise.” Then he dropped the bombshell. “Nor do we require that a nation already be recognized by any existing nation or body of nations, provided it meets our other requirements.”