Ход королевы
Chapter 1
Helookedatitsittingthereandthenreachedoutangrilyandtoppledhisking.Neitherofthemsaidanything.Itwasherfirstwin.Allofthetensionwasgone,andwhatBethfeltinsideherselfwasaswonderfulasanythingshehadeverfeltinherlife.
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ShefoundshecouldmisslunchonSundays,andnoonepaidanyattention.ThatgaveherthreehourswithMr.Shaibel,untilheleftforhomeattwo-thirty.Theydidnottalk,eitherofthem.Healwaysplayedthewhitepieces,movingfirst,andshetheblack.Shehadthoughtaboutquestioningthisbutdecidednotto.
OneSunday,afteragamehehadbarelymanagedtowin,hesaidtoher,“YoushouldlearntheSicilianDefense.”
“What’sthat?”sheaskedirritably.
Shewasstillsmartingfromtheloss.Shehadbeatenhimtwogameslastweek.
“WhenWhitemovespawntoqueenfour,Blackdoesthis.”Hereacheddownandmovedthewhitepawntwosquaresuptheboard,hisalmostinvariablefirstmove.Thenhepickedupthepawninfrontoftheblackqueen’sbishopandsetitdowntwosquaresuptowardthemiddle.Itwasthefirsttimehehadevershownheranythinglikethis.
“Thenwhat?”shesaid.
Hepickeduptheking’sknightandsetitbelowandtotherightofthepawn.“KnighttoKB3.”
“What’sKB3?”
“King’sbishop3.WhereIjustputtheknight.”
“Thesquareshavenames?”
Henoddedimpassively.Shesensedthathewasunwillingtogiveupeventhismuchinformation.“Ifyouplaywell,theyhavenames.”
Sheleanedforward.“Showme.”
Helookeddownather.“No.Notnow.”
Thisinfuriatedher.
