Ход королевы

           Shelistenedtothenightnoisesandnoticedhowtheyseemedtogetlouderashereyesgrewaccustomedtothedarkness.DownthehallwayMr.ByrnebegantalkingtoMrs.Holland,atthedesk.Beth’sbodygrewtautatthesound.Sheblinkedandlookedatthedarkceilingoverheadandforcedherselftoseethechessboardwithitsgreenandwhitesquares.Thensheputthepiecesontheirhomesquares:rook,knight,bishop,queen,king,andtherowofpawnsinfrontofthem.ThenshemovedWhite’skingpawnuptothefourthrow.ShepushedBlack’sup.Shecoulddothis!Itwassimple.Shewenton,beginningtoreplaythegameshehadlost.

           ShebroughtMr.Shaibel’sknightuptothethirdrow.Itstoodthereclearlyinhermindonthegreen-and-whiteboardontheceilingoftheward.

           Thenoiseshadalreadyfadedintoawhite,harmoniousbackground.Bethlayhappilyinbed,playingchess.

           ***

           ThenextSundaysheblockedtheScholar’sMatewithherking’sknight.Shehadgoneoverthegameinhermindahundredtimes,untiltheangerandhumiliationwerepurgedfromit,leavingthepiecesandtheboardclearinhernighttimevision.WhenshecametoplayMr.ShaibelonSunday,itwasallworkedout,andshemovedtheknightasifinadream.Shelovedthefeelofthepiece,theminiaturehorse’sheadinherhand.Whenshesetdowntheknightonthesquare,thejanitorscowledatit.HetookhisqueenbytheheadandcheckedBeth’skingwithit.ButBethwasreadyforthattoo;shehadseenitinbedthenightbefore.

           Ittookhimfourteenmovestotrapherqueen.