Ход королевы
Chapter 4
Thepiecesbeforeher,inherimagination,werecrispandsharplyfocused.
Shestayedwhereshewas,notworryingabouttime,untilshehaditpenetratedandunderstood.Thenshegotup,washedherfaceagainandwalkedbackintothegym.Shehadfoundhermove.
Thereweremorepeoplegatheredin“TopBoards”thanbefore;asgamesendedtheycameintowatchthefinals.Shepushedbythem,steppedovertheropeandsatdown.Herhandswereperfectlysteady,andherstomachandeyesfeltfine.Shereachedoutandmoved;shepunchedtheclockfirmly.
Beltikstudiedthemoveforafewminutesandtookherknightwithhisbishop,assheknewhewould.Shedidnotretake;shebroughtabishopovertoattackoneofhisrooks.Hemovedtherookthebuttondownonhisclock,leanedbackinhischairanddrewadeepbreath.
“Itdoesn’twork,”Bethsaid.“Idon’thavetotakethequeen.”
“Move,”Beltiksaid.
“I’llcheckyoufirstwiththebishop—”
“Move!”
Shenoddedandcheckedwiththebishop.Beltik,withhisclockticking,quicklymovedhiskingawayandpressedthebutton.ThenBethdidwhatshehadplannedallalong.Shebroughtherqueencrashingdownnexttotheking,sacrificingit.Beltiklookedather,stunned.Shestaredbackathim.Heshrugged,snatchedupthequeenandstoppedhisclockbyhittingitwiththebaseofthecapturedpiece.
Bethpushedherotherbishopfromthebackrankouttothemiddleoftheboardandsaid,“Check.Matenextmove.”Beltikstaredatitforamoment,said,“Sonofabitch!”andstoodup.
“Therookmates,”Bethsaid
