Ход королевы

           Shehadtwoofthelittlegreenpillsinherpajamapocket,andshetookthemafterthelightswereoff.Shedidn’twanttorisknotsleeping.

           Theseconddaywasaseasyasthefirst,eventhoughBethwasmatchedagainststrongerplayers.Ithadtakenherawhiletoclearherheadfromtheeffectofthepills,butbythetimeshestartedplayinghermindwassharp.Sheevenhandledthepiecesthemselveswithconfidence,pickingthemupandsettingthemdownwithaplomb.

           Therewasno“TopBoards”roomatthistournament.BoardOnewasmerelythefirstboardatthefirsttable.ForthesecondgameBethwasatBoardSix,andpeopleweregatheredaroundherassheforcedthemastertoresignaftertakingoneofhisrooks.Whenshelookedupduringtheapplause,therestoodAlmaWheatleyatthebackoftheroomsmilingbroadly.

           Inherfinalgame,atBoardOne,BethwasplayingamasternamedRudolph.Hemanagedtostarttradingpiecesinthecenterduringthemiddlegame,andBethwasalarmedtofindherselfcrowdedintoanendingwitharook,aknightandthreepawns.Rudolphhadthesamething,exceptforabishopwhereshehadaknight.Shedidn’tlikeit,andhisbishopwasadistinctadvantage.ButshemanagedtopinitandtradeherknightforitandthenplaywithgreatcareforanhourandahalfuntilRudolphmadeablunderandshezeroedinonit.Shecheckedwithapawn,tradedrooksandgotoneofherpawnspassedwiththekingprotecting.Rudolphlookedfuriousathimselfandresigned.

           Therewasstrongapplause.Bethlookedatthecrowdaroundthetable.Neartheback,inherbluedress,wasMrs.