Ход королевы

           Thenshesawamovethatlookedsensibleandquicklymadeit.Shebroughtaknightbackneartheking,protectingherselfagainstBeltik’squeen.

           Heraisedhiseyebrowsalmostimperceptiblyandimmediatelytookapawnontheothersideoftheboard.Therewassuddenlyadiagonalopenforhisbishop.Thebishopwasaimedattheknightshe’dwastedtimebringingback,andshewasdownbyanotherpawn.AtthecornerofBeltik’smouthwasaslylittlesmile.Shequicklylookedawayfromhisface,frightened.

           Shehadtodosomething.Hewouldbealloverherkinginfourorfivemoves.Sheneedtoconcentrate,toseeitclearly.Butwhenshelookedattheboard,everythingwasdense,interlocked,complicated,dangerous.Thenshethoughtofsomethingtodo.Withherclockstillrunningshestoodup,steppedovertheropeandwalkedthroughthesmallcrowdofsilentspectatorstothemaingymfloorandacrossittothegirls’room.Therewasnoonethere.Shewenttoasink,washedherfacewithcoldwater,wetahandfulofpapertowelsandheldthemforaminutetothebackofherneck.Aftershethrewthemawayshewentintooneofthelittlestallsand,sitting,checkedhersanitarynapkin.Itwasokay.Shesatthererelaxing,lettinghermindgoblank.Herelbowswereonherknees,herheadwasbentdown.

           WithaneffortofwillshemadethechessboardwiththegameonBoardOneonitappearinfrontofher.Thereitwas.Shecouldseeimmediatelythatitwasdifficult,butnotasdifficultassomeofthegamesshe’dmemorizedfromthebookatMorris’sBookStore.