Ход королевы
Chapter 5
SheknewfromthewaygirlstalkedatschoolthatPurcell’swasbetterthanBenSnyder’s.Shefoundwhatshewantedonthefourthfloor:awoodensetalmostidenticaltotheoneMr.Ganzowned,withhand-carvedknightsandbig,substantialpawns,androoksthatwerefatandsolid.Shewasundecidedforawhileovertheboardandalmostboughtawoodenonebeforesettlingonafoldinglinenboardwithgreenandbeigesquares.Itwouldbemoreportablethantheother.
Backhomesheclearedoffherdesk,puttheboardonitandsetupthepieces.Shepiledhernewchessbooksononesideandplacedthetallsilvertrophyintheshapeofachesskingontheother.Sheturnedonherstudentlampandsatatthedesk,justlookingatthepieces,atthewaytheircurvespickedupthelight.Shesatforwhatseemedlikealongtime,hermindquiet.ThenshepickedupModernChessOpenings.Thistimeshebeganatthebeginning.
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ShehadneverseenanythingliketheGibsonHotelbefore.Itssizeandbustle,thebrightchandeliersinitslobby,theheavyredcarpeting,theflowers,eventhethreerevolvingdoorsandtheuniformeddoormanwhostoodbesidethemwereoverwhelming.SheandMrs.Wheatleywalkeduptothefrontofthehotelfromthebusstation,carryingtheirnewluggage.Mrs.Wheatleyrefusedtohanditovertothedoorman.Sheluggedhersuitcaseuptothefrontdeskandregisteredforthemboth,unperturbedbythelooktheroomclerkgavethem.
Intheroomafterward,Bethbegantorelax.ThereweretwobigwindowsoverlookingFourthStreetwithitsrushhourtraffic.Itwasacrisp,colddayoutside.
