Ход королевы
Chapter 6
Heplayedwithacalm,pleasantprecision,pickinguphispieceslightlyandsettingthemdownnoiselessly,sometimessmilingtohimselfashedidso.Everymovehemadelookedsolidasarock.Beth’sgreatstrengthwasinfastattack,andshecouldfindnowaytoattack.Bythesixteenthmoveshewasfuriouswithherselfforplayingthegambitinthefirstplace.
Theremusthavebeenfortypeopleclusteredaroundtheespeciallylargewoodentable.TherewasabrownvelvetcurtainbehindthemwiththenamesHARMONandWATTSpinnedtoit.Thehorriblefeeling,atthebottomoftheangerandfear,wasthatshewastheweakerplayer—thatBennyWattsknewmoreaboutchessthanshedidandcouldplayitbetter.Itwasanewfeelingforher,anditseemedtobindandrestrictherasshehadnotbeenboundandrestrictedsincethelasttimeshesatinMrs.Deardorff’soffice.Foramomentshelookedoverthecrowdaroundthetable,tryingtofindMrs.Wheatley,butshewasnotthere.BethturnedbacktotheboardandlookedbrieflyatBenny.Hesmiledatherserenely,asthoughhewereofferingheradrinkratherthanahead-splittingchessposition.Bethsetherelbowsonthetable,leanedhercheeksagainstherclenchedfistsandbegantoconcentrate.
Afteramomentasimplethoughtcametoher:I’mnotplayingBennyWatts;I’mplayingchess.Shelookedathimagain.Hiseyeswerestudyingtheboardnow.Hecan’tmoveuntilIdo.Hecanonlymoveonepieceatatime.
