Ход королевы
Chapter 1
Thenshemovedinwithherknight,broughtarookout,andhadhimmatedintenmoremoves.
Ithadbeensimple—merelyamatterofkeepinghereyesopenandvisualizingthewaysthegamecouldgo.
Thecheckmatetookhimbysurprise;shecaughtthekingonthebackrank,reachingherarmallthewayacrosstheboardandsettingtherookcrisplyonthematingsquare.“Mate,”shesaidlevelly.
Mr.Shaibelseemeddifferenttoday.Hedidnotscowlashealwaysdidwhenshebeathim.Heleanedforwardandsaid,“I’llteachyouchessnotation.”
Shelookedupathim.
“Thenamesofthesquares.I’llteachyounow.”
Sheblinked.“AmIgoodenoughnow?”
Hestartedtosaysomethingandstopped.“Howoldareyou,child?”
“Eight.”
“Eightyearsold.”Heleanedforward—asfarashishugepaunchwouldpermit.“Totellyouthetruthofit,child,youareastounding.”
Shedidnotunderstandwhathewassaying.
“Excuseme,”Mr.Shaibelreacheddownonthefloorforanearlyemptypintbottle.Hetiltedhisheadbackanddrankfromit.
“Isthatwhiskey?”Bethasked.
“Yes,child.Anddon’ttell.”
“Iwon’t,”shesaid.“Teachmechessnotation.”
Hesetthebottlebackonthefloor.Bethfolloweditforamomentwithhereyes,wonderingwhatwhiskeywouldtastelikeandwhatitwouldfeellikewhenyoudrankit.Thensheturnedhergazeandherattentionbacktotheboardwithitsthirty-twopieces,eachexertingitsownsilentforce.
***
Sometimeinthemiddleofthenightshewasawakened.Someonewassittingontheedgeofherbed.Shestiffened.
