Ход королевы

           Wattsreachedouttotakeagain,buthesitated.Doit!shecommandedsilently.Buthepulledhishandback.Ifhesawthroughwhatshewasplanning,therewasstilltimetogetoutofit.Shebitherlip.Hewasstudyingtheboardintently.Hewouldseeit.Thetickingoftheclockseemedveryloud.Beth’sheartwasbeatingsostronglythatforamomentshefearedWattswouldhearitandknowshewaspanickedand—

           Buthedidn’t.Hetookthetradejustasshehadplannedit.Shelookedathisfacealmostindisbelief.Itwastoolateforhimnow.Hepressedthebuttonthatstoppedhisclockandstartedhers.

           Shepushedthepawnuptorookfive.Immediatelyhestiffenedinhischair—almostimperceptibly,butBethsawit.Hebeganstudyingthepositionintently.Buthemusthaveseenhewasgoingtobestuckwithdoubledpawns;aftertwoorthreeminutesheshruggedandmadethenecessarymove,andBethdidhercontinuation,andthenonthenextmovethepawnwasdoubledandthenervousnessandangerhadlefther.Shewasouttowinnow.Shewouldhammerathisweakness.Shelovedit.Shelovedattack.

           Bennylookedatherimpassivelyforamoment.Thenhereachedouthishand,pickeduphisqueen,anddidsomethingastonishing.Hequietlycapturedhercenterpawn.Herprotectedpawn.Thepawnthathadbeenholdingthequeentohercornerformostofthegame.Hewassacrificinghisqueen.Shecouldnotbelieveit.

           Andthenshesawwhatitmeant,andherstomachtwistedsharply.Howhadshemissedit?Withthepawngone,shewasopentoarook-bishopmatebecauseofthebishopontheopeneddiagonal.