Ход королевы
Chapter 1
OnThursdayshewasabletogotosleepafterplayingchessinhermindforanhourorso,andshesavedtheday’stwopills.ShedidthesamethingonFriday.AlldaySaturday,doingherworkinthecafeteriakitchenandintheafternoonduringtheChristianmovieinthelibraryandthePersonalImprovementTalkbeforedinner,shecouldfeelalittleglowwhenevershewantedto,knowingthatshehadsixpillsinhertoothbrushholder.
Thatnight,afterlightsout,shetookthemall,onebyone,andwaited.Thefeeling,whenitcame,wasdelicious—akindofeasysweetnessinherbellyandalooseninginthetightpartsofherbody.Shekeptherselfawakeaslongasshecouldtoenjoythewarmthinsideher,thedeepchemicalhappiness.
OnSundaywhenMr.Shaibelaskedwhereshehadbeen,shewassurprisedthathecared.“Theywouldn’tletmeoutofclass,”shesaid.
Henodded.Thechessboardwassetup,andshesawtohersurprisethatthewhitepieceswerefacinghersideandthatthemilkcratewasalreadyinplace.“DoImovefirst?”shesaid,incredulous.
“Yes.Fromnowonwetaketurns.It’sthewaythegameshouldbeplayed.”
Sheseatedherselfandmovedtheking’spawn.Mr.Shaibelwordlesslymovedhisqueenbishop’spawn.Shehadn’tforgottenthemoves.Sheneverforgotchessmoves.HeplayedtheLevenfishVariation;shekepthereyesonhisbishop’scommandofthelongdiagonal,thewayitwaswaitingtopounce.Andshefoundawaytoneutralizeitontheseventeenthmove.Shewasabletotradeherown,weakerbishopforit.
