Ender's Saga, #1
Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card
Contents
12. Bonzo
Overview
General Pace confronts Graff over a plot to harm Ender, but Graff refuses to intervene. Ender later survives Bonzo’s shower ambush, incapacitating him; Bonzo subsequently dies. Exhausted, Ender still defeats Griffin and Tiger using a gate-reversal gambit, then denounces the game. Command reshuffles follow: Bean receives Rabbit Army, Ender is abruptly graduated to Command School as the war’s urgency intensifies.
Summary
General Pace warns Colonel Graff that Bonzo Madrid and others plan to attack Ender, but Graff insists Ender must believe no adult will help. Meanwhile, Ender observes Bean inventing high-speed “deadline” maneuvers, reinforcing Dragon Army’s creativity and cohesion during a grueling campaign.
On the way back from practice, Petra tries to warn Ender of a murder plot; Ender notices hostile older boys shadowing him and accepts escorts. A note from Dink urges Ender never to be alone. After a long morning battle against Badger with new thawing rules, Ender, exhausted, showers alone and is cornered by Bonzo and six allies.
Ender refuses humiliation, manipulates Bonzo into single combat, and uses heat and slipperiness to destabilize him. Despite Dink’s attempt to intervene, Ender strikes decisively—headbutting Bonzo and then kicking him in the groin—leaving Bonzo unresponsive as adults arrive too late. Shaken, Ender weeps, recognizing the teachers will not protect him.
That evening, still drained, Ender is ordered into a double battle versus Griffin and Tiger. Using Bean’s deadline tactics, Ender feints with formations, splits his force, and executes a gate-reversal victory ritual while outnumbered, ending the match and prompting rule changes. He publicly denounces the rigged game and declares it over.
Command promptly dismantles Dragon: many commanders graduate, Ender’s toon leaders are reassigned, and Bean—now Rabbit’s commander—brings Ender news that Bonzo has been “graduated” home. Graff and Anderson arrive with immediate transfer orders; Ender is graduated straight to Command School. In transit, adults confirm Bonzo’s death off-screen and reveal accelerating war pressures, underscoring the urgency behind Ender’s advancement.
Who Appears
- Ender WigginTarget of a lethal plot; defeats Bonzo in the shower, wins a double battle via gate reversal, denounces the game, and is graduated to Command School.
- Colonel Hyrum GraffRefuses protection for Ender to harden him; later reassigns Ender to Command School and departs Battle School duties.
- General PaceHead of I.F. military police; warns Graff about the conspiracy and later travels with Ender after Bonzo’s death.
- Bonito "Bonzo" MadridLeads a shower ambush; fights Ender alone for honor, is incapacitated, and later dies.
- BeanInvents deadline maneuvers; helps recon in battle; later promoted to command Rabbit Army; bids Ender farewell.
- Dink MeekerWarns Ender not to be alone; tries to stop the fight; escorts Ender afterward.
- Petra ArkanianAttempts to warn Ender in the corridor, triggering his caution amid the ambush setup.
- Major/Colonel AndersonEnters battleroom after Ender’s stunt; announces rule change; later promoted to command Battle School.
- William BeeGriffin Army commander; is outmaneuvered by Ender’s gate-reversal tactic.
- Talo MomoeTiger Army commander; advocates attacking early but is defeated in the double battle.
- Pol SlatteryBadger commander in morning battle; uses new thawing rule and shows sportsmanship.
- BernardParticipates in Bonzo’s shower confrontation, attempting to humiliate Ender.
- Crazy TomDragon toon leader; spots thawing rule effects and rallies confidence before the double battle.
- Major ImbuOff-screen analyst discussing Bonzo’s death and Ender’s exoneration in the chapter’s coda.