Ход королевы
Chapter 4
ShepaidnoattentiontoGoldmannhimselfortothecrowdortothefeelinginherlowerabdomenorthesweatthathadbrokenoutonherbrow.Sheplayedagainsttheboardonly,withlinesofforceetchedforherintoitssurface:thesmallstubbornfieldsforthepawns,theenormousoneforthequeen,thegradationsinbetween.Justbeforehisclockwasabouttorunoutshecheckmatedhim.
WhenshecircledhernameonthescoresheetshelookedagainatthenumberofGoldmann’srating.Itwas1997.Peoplewereapplauding.
Shewentdirectlytothegirls’roomanddiscoveredthatshehadbeguntomenstruate.Foramomentshefelt,lookingattherednessinthewaterbelowher,asthoughsomethingcatastrophichadhappened.HadshebledonthechairatBoardThree?Werethepeopletherestaringatthestainsofherblood?Butshesawwithreliefthathercottonpantieswerebarelyspotted.ShethoughtabruptlyofJolene.Ifithadn’tbeenforJolene,shewouldhavehadnoideawhatwashappening.Nooneelsehadsaidawordaboutthis—certainlynotMrs.Wheatley.ShefeltasuddenwarmthforJolene,rememberingthatJolenehadalsotoldherwhattodo“inanemergency.”Bethbeganpullingalongsheetfromtherolloftoiletpaperandfoldingitintoatightlypackedrectangle.Thepaininherabdomenhadeased.Shewasmenstruating,andshehadjustbeatenGoldmann:1997.Sheputthefoldedpaperintoherpanties,pulledthemuptight,straightenedherskirtandwalkedconfidentlybackintotheplayingarea.
