Ход королевы
Chapter 8
Theyhadgotnowhereclosetoanendgame;whenMarencostoodupandofferedherhishand,theboardwasstillmassedwithuncapturedpieces.
Thetopthreeboardswereinaseparateroomacrossthehallwayfromthemainballroom.Bethhadglancedatitthatmorningwhilerushing,fiveminuteslate,totheplacewhereshewastoplay,butshehadnotstoppedtolookin.Shewalkedtowarditnow,acrossthecarpetedroomwithitsrowsofplayersbentoverboards—playersfromthePhilippinesandWestGermanyandIcelandandNorwayandChile,mostofthemyoung,almostallofthemmale.Thereweretwootherwomen:aMexicanofficial’sniece,atBoardTwenty-two,andanintenseyounghousewifefromBuenosAires;shewasatBoardSeventeen.Bethdidnotstoptolookatanyofthepositions.
Severalpeoplewerestandinginthehallwayoutsidethesmallergameroom.Shepushedpastthemintothedoorway,andthereacrosstheroomfromheratBoardOne,wearingthesamedarksuit,thesamegrimscowl,wasVasilyBorgov,hisexpressionlesseyesonthegameinfrontofhim.Arespectfullysilentcrowdstoodbetweenherandhim,buttheplayerssatonakindofwoodenstageafewfeetabovefloorlevel,andshecouldseehimclearly.Behindhimonthewallwasadisplaychessboardwithcardboardpieces;aMexicanwasjustmovingoneofthewhiteknightsintoitsnewpositionasBethcamein.Shestudiedtheboardforamoment.Everythingwasverytight,butBorgovseemedtohaveanedge.
ShelookedatBorgovandquicklylookedaway.Hisfacewasalarminginitsconcentration.Sheturnedandleft,walkingslowlyalongthehall.
