Ход королевы
Chapter 4
Althoughitwasdifficulttoseewithherusualclarity,shehadnotlosthersenseoftherequirementsofanopening.Shebroughtoutherknightsandinvolvedherselfforawhileinastruggleforthecentersquares.ButBeltik,movingfast,nippedoffoneofherpawnsandshesawthatshecouldn’tcapturethepawnhediditwith.Shetriedtoshrugofftheadvantageshe’dallowedandwentonplaying.Shegotherpiecesoffthebackrank,andcastled.ShelookedovertheboardatBeltik.Heseemedcompletelyatease;hewaslookingatthegamegoingonnexttothem.Bethfeltaknotinherstomach;shecouldnotgetcomfortableinherseat.Theheavyclusterofpiecesandpawnsinthecenteroftheboardseemedforawhiletohavenopattern,tomakenosense.
Herclockwasticking.Sheinclinedherheadtolookatitsface;twenty-fiveminutesweregone,andshewasstilldownbyapawn.AndBeltikhadusedonlytwenty-twominutesaltogether,evenincludingthetimehe’dwastedbybeinglate.Therewasaringinginherears,andthebrightlightintheroomhurthereyes.Beltikwasleaningbackwithhisarmsoutstretched,yawning,showingtheblackplacesontheundersidesofhisteeth.
Shefoundwhatlookedlikeagoodsquareforherknight,reachedoutherhandandthenstopped.Themovewouldbeterrible;somethinghadtobedoneabouthisqueenbeforehehaditontherookfileandwasreadytothreaten.Shehadtoprotectandattackatthesametime,andshecouldn’tseehow.Thepiecesinfrontofherjustsatthere.Sheshouldhavetakenagreenpilllastnight,tomakehersleep.
