Ход королевы
Chapter 4
TheUNDEFEATEDlistnowread:BELTIK,HARMON.
Whenshewaswalkingtowardthegirls’roomBeltikcameoutof“TopBoards”stridingfastandlookingverypleasedwithhimself.Hewascarryingthelittlescoresheet,onhiswaytothewinners’basket.Hedidn’tseemtoseeBeth.
Shewentovertothedoorwayofthe“TopBoards”room,andTowneswasstandingthere.Therewerelinesoffatigueinhisface;helookedlikeRockHudson,exceptfortheweariness.“Goodwork,Harmon,”hesaid.
“I’msorryyoulost,”shesaid.
“Yeah,”hesaid.“It’sbacktothedrawingboard.”Andthen,noddingtowhereBeltikwasstandingatthefronttablewithasmallcrowdgatherednearhim,hesaid,“He’sakiller,Harmon.Agenuinekiller.”
Shelookedathisface.“Youneedarest.”
Hesmileddownather.“WhatIneed,Harmon,issomeofyourtalent.”
Asshepassedthefronttable,Beltiktookasteptowardherandsaid,“Tomorrow.”
***
WhenBethcameintothelivingroomjustbeforesupper,Mrs.Wheatleylookedpaleandstrange.Shewassittinginthechintzarmchairandherfacewaspuffy.Shewasholdingabrightlycoloredpostcardinherlap.
“I’vestartedmenstruating,”Bethsaid.
Mrs.Wheatleyblinked.“That’snice,”shesaid,asthoughfromagreatdistance.
“I’llneedsomepadsorsomething,”Bethsaid.
Mrs.Wheatleyseemednonplusedforamoment.Thenshebrightened.“That’scertainlyamilepostforyou.Whydon’tyoujustgouptomyroomandlookinthetopdrawerofmychiffonier?Takeallyourequire.”
“Thankyou,”Bethsaid,headingforthestairs.
