Ход королевы
Chapter 8
Butastheygotintothemidgameitbecamemorecomplexthanusual,andsherealizedthathewasplayingaverysophisticateddefense.Hemovedfast—maddeninglyfast—andheseemedtoknowexactlywhathewasgoingtodo.Shetriedafewthreats,buthewasunperturbedbythem.Anhourpassed,thenanother.Themovenumberswerenowinthethirties,andtheboardwasdensewithmen.Shelookedathimashewasmovingapiece—attheskinnylittlearmstuckoutfromtheabsurdshirt—andshehatedhim.Hecouldhavebeenamachine.Youlittlecreep,shethought,suddenlyrealizingthattheadultsshehadplayedasachildmusthavethoughtthesamethingabouther.
Itwasafternoonnow,andmostofthegameswerefinished.Theywereonmovethirty-four.ShewantedtogetthisoverwithandgetbacktoMrs.Wheatley.ShewasworriedaboutMrs.Wheatley.Shefeltoldandwearyplayingthistirelesschildwithhisbrightdarkeyesandquicklittlemovements;sheknewthatifshemadeevenasmallblunder,hewouldbeatherthroat.Shelookedatherclock.Twenty-fiveminutesleft.Shewouldhavetospeedupandgetfortymovesinbeforeherflagdropped.Ifshedidn’twatchit,hewouldhaveherinserioustimepressure.Thatwassomethingshewasinthehabitofputtingotherpeoplein;itmadeheruneasy.Shehadneverbeenbehindontheclockbefore.
Forthelastseveralmovesshehadbeenconsideringaseriesoftradesinthecenter—knightandbishopforknightandbishop,andarookexchangeafewmoveslater.
