Ход королевы
Chapter 5
Thenextweekatschool,duringalgebraclass,BethsawtheboyinfrontofherpassacopyofLifetothegirlnexttohim,andtheybothturnedandlookedbackatherasthoughtheyhadneverseenherbefore.Afterclasstheboy,whohadneverspokentoherbefore,stoppedherandaskedifshewouldautographthemagazine.Bethwasstunned.Shetookitfromhimandthereitwas,fillingafullpage.Therewasapictureofherlookingseriousatherchessboard,andtherewasanotherpictureofthemainbuildingatMethuen.Acrossthetopofthepageaheadlineread:AGIRLMOZARTSTARTLESTHEWORLDOFCHESS.Shesignedhernamewiththeboy’sball-pointpen,settingthemagazineonanemptydesk.
Whenshegothome,Mrs.Wheatleyhadthemagazineinherlap.Shebeganreadingaloud:
“‘Withsomepeoplechessisapastime,withothersitisacompulsion,evenanaddiction.Andeverynowandthenapersoncomesalongforwhomitisabirthright.Nowandthenasmallboyappearsanddazzlesuswithhisprecocityatwhatmaybetheworld’smostdifficultgame.Butwhatifthatboywereagirl—ayoung,unsmilinggirlwithbrowneyes,brownhairandadark-bluedress?
“‘Ithasneverhappenedbefore,butithappenedrecently.InLexington,Kentucky,andinCincinnati.InCharleston,Atlanta,Miami,andlatelyinNewYorkCity.Intothemale-dominatedworldofthenation’stopchesstournamentsstrollsafourteen-year-oldwithbright,intenseeyes,fromeighthgradeatFairfieldJuniorHighinLexington,Kentucky.Sheisquietandwell-mannered.Andsheisoutforblood…’It’smarvelous!”Mrs.
