Ход королевы
Chapter 4
Itwasafterthenineteenthmove,andshefeltherselfresistingitasitopenedupinhermind,hatingtoletgoofthepleasantballettheyhaddancedtogether.Butthereitwas:fourmovesandhewouldhavetolosearookorworse.Shehesitatedandmadethefirstmoveofthesequence.
Hedidn’tseewhatwashappeninguntiltwomoveslater,whenhefrownedsuddenlyandsaid,“JesusChrist,Harmon,I’mgoingtodroparook!”Shelovedhisvoice;shelovedthewayhesaidit.Heshookhisheadinmockbafflement;shelovedthat.
Someplayerswhohadfinishedtheirgameearlyhadgatheredaroundtheboard,andacouplewerewhisperingaboutthemaneuverBethhadbroughtoff.
Towneswentonplayingforfivemoremoves,andBethfeltgenuinelysorryforhimwhenheresigned,tippinghiskingoverandsaying“Damn!”Buthestoodup,stretchedandsmileddownather.“You’reonehellofachessplayer,Harmon,”hesaid.“Howoldareyou?”
“Thirteen.”
Hewhistled.“Wheredoyougotoschool?”
“FairfieldJunior.”
“Yeah,”hesaid.“Iknowwherethatis.”
Hewasevenbetter-lookingthanamoviestar.
AnhourlatershedrewGoldmannandBoardThree.Shewalkedintothetournamentroomatexactlyeleven,andthepeoplestandingstoppedtalkingwhenshecamein.Everyonelookedather.Sheheardsomeonewhisper,“Thirteenfuckingyearsold,”andimmediatelythethoughtcameintohermind,alongwiththeexultantfeelingthewhisperedvoicehadgivenher:Icouldhavedonethisateight.
Goldmannwastoughandsilentandslow.
