Ход королевы

           Someoftheotherplayersatthetournamenthadcarriedbatteredcopiesofthebookundertheirarms.

           Itwasonlydrizzlingwhensheleftthehouseatten,andMrs.Wheatleywasstillupstairsasleep.Beforesheleft,BethwentintothebathroomandcheckedthesanitarybeltMrs.Wheatleyhadgivenhertowear,andthethickwhitepad.Itwasallright.Sheputonhergaloshesandherbluecoat,gotMrs.Wheatley’sumbrellafromtheclosetandleft.

           ***

           ShehadnoticedbeforethatthepiecesatBoardOneweredifferent.TheyweresolidwoodenoneslikeMr.Ganz’sandnotthehollowplasticpiecesthatsatontheotherboardsatthetournament.Whenshewalkedbythetableintheemptyroomatten-thirtyshereachedoutandpickedupthewhiteking.Itwassatisfyinglyheavy,withasolidleadweightandgreenfeltonthebottom.Sheplacedthepieceonitshomesquare,steppedbackoverthevelvetropeandwalkedtothegirls’room.Shewashedherfaceforthethirdtimethatday,tightenedhersanitarybelt,combedherbangsandwentbacktothegymnasium.Moreplayershadcomein.Shestuffedherhandsintothepocketsofherskirtsothatnoonecouldseetheyweretrembling.

           Wheneleveno’clockcameshewasreadybehindthewhitepiecesatBoardOne.BoardsTwoandThreehadalreadystartedtheirgames.SizemorewasatBoardTwo.Shedidn’trecognizetheothers.

           Tenminutespassed,andBeltikdidnotappear.ThetournamentdirectorinthewhiteshirtclimbedoverandstoodnearBethforaminute.“Hasn’tshownyet?”hesaidsoftly.

           Bethshookherhead.