Ход королевы
Chapter 6
Theinterviewer,awomanwithheavilylacqueredhairandharlequinglasses,askedBethifsheplayedbridge;Bethsaidno.DidshelikebeingtheU.S.OpenChampionatchess?Bethsaidshewasco-champion.Bethsatinadirector’schairwithbrightlightsshiningonherface.Shewaswillingtotalkaboutchess,butthewoman’smanner,herfalseappearanceofinterest,madeitdifficult.Finallyshewasaskedhowshefeltabouttheideathatchesswasawasteoftime,andshelookedatthewomanintheotherchairandsaid,“Nomorethanbasketball.”Butbeforeshecouldgoonaboutthat,theshowwasover.Shehadbeenonforsixminutes.
Theone-pagearticleTowneshadwrittenaboutherappearedintheSundaysupplementoftheHerald-LeaderwithoneofthepictureshehadtakenatthewindowofhisroominLasVegas.Shelikedherselfinthepicture,withherrighthandonthewhitequeenandherfacelookingclear,seriousandintelligent.Mrs.Wheatleyboughtfivecopiesofthepaperforherscrapbook.
Bethwasinhighschoolnow,andtherewasachessclub,butshedidnotbelong.TheboysinitwerenonplusedtohaveaMasterwalkingthehallways,andtheywouldstareatherinakindofembarrassedawewhenshepassed.OnceaboyfromtwelfthgradestoppedhertoasknervouslyifshewouldgiveasimultaneousinChessClubsometime.Shewouldplayaboutthirtystudentsatonce.Sherememberedthatotherhighschool,nearMethuen,andthewayshewasstaredatafterward.“I’msorry,”shesaid,“Idon’thavetime
