Ход королевы
Chapter 5
“Beth,dear,”shesaid,“there’satournamentinHoustonovertheholidays,startingthetwenty-sixth.Iunderstandit’sveryeasytotravelonChristmasDay,sincemostpeopleareeatingplumpuddingorwhatever.”
“Isaw,”Bethsaid.ShehadreadtheadinChessReviewandwantedverymuchtogo.ButHoustonhadseemedawfullyfarawayforasixhundred-dollarprize.
“IbelievewecouldflytoHouston,”Mrs.Wheatleysaidbrightly.“Wecouldhaveapleasantwintervacationinthesun.”
Bethwasfinishingherspumoni.“Okay,”shesaidandthen,lookingdownattheicecream,“Okay,Mother.”
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TheirChristmasdinnerwasmicrowaveturkeyservedonanairplane,withacomplimentaryglassofchampagneforMrs.WheatleyandcannedorangejuiceforBeth.ItwasthebestChristmasshehadeverhad.Theplaneflewoverasnow-coveredKentuckyand,attheendofthetrip,circledoutabovetheGulfofMexico.Theylandedinwarmairandsunshine.Drivinginfromtheairport,theypassedoneconstructionsiteaftertheother,thebigyellowcranesandbulldozersstandingidlenearstacksofgirders.SomeonehadhungaChristmaswreathononeofthem.
AweekbeforetheyleftLexingtonanewcopyofChessReviewhadcomeinthemail.WhenBethopeneditshefoundasmallpictureofherselfandBeltikattheback,andabannerheadline:SCHOOLGIRLTAKESKENTUCKYCHAMPIONSHIPFROMMASTER.Theirgamewasprintedandthecommentarysaid:“Onlookerswereamazedatheryouthfulmasteryofthefinepointsofstrategy.Sheshowstheassuranceofplayerstwiceherage.
