Ход королевы
Chapter 8
IfIwin,IwillbeplayingsomeoneintheafternoonwhoisevenbetterthanMarenco.Ineedtoworkonmyendgames.”
“Honey,youarewhatiscalledan‘intuitive’player,aren’tyou?”Mrs.Wheatleyhadneverdiscussedchessplayingwithherbefore.
“I’vebeencalledthat.Movescometomesometimes.”
“I’venoticedthemovestheyapplaudtheloudestaretheonesyoumakequickly.Andthere’sacertainlookonyourface.”
Bethwasstartled.“Isupposeyou’reright,”shesaid.
“Intuitiondoesn’tcomefrombooks.Ithinkit’sbecauseyoudon’tlikeManuel.”
“Manuel’sallright,”Bethsaid,“buthedoesn’tcomebytoseeme.”
“That’sirrelevant,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid.“Youneedtorelax.There’snotanotherplayerintheworldasgiftedasyouare.Ihaven’ttheremotestideawhatfacultiesapersonusesinordertoplaychesswell,butIamconvincedthatrelaxationcanonlyimprovethem.”
Bethsaidnothing.Shehadbeenfuriousforseveraldays.ShedidnotlikeMexicoCityorthisenormousconcretehotelwithitscrackedtilesandleakyfaucets.Shedidnotlikethefoodinthehotel,butshedidnotwanttoeataloneinrestaurants.Mrs.WheatleyhadgoneoutforlunchanddinnereverydaywithManuel,whoownedagreenDodgeandseemedtobealwaysatherdisposal.
“Whydon’tyouhavelunchwithus?”Mrs.Wheatleysaid.“Wecandropyouoffafterwardandyoucanstudythen.”
Bethstartedtoanswer,whentherewasaknockatthedoor.ItwasroomservicewithMrs.Wheatley’smargarita.BethsignedforitwhileMrs.
