Ход королевы
Chapter 8
Itseemedclearenough.Sheshouldadvancetherookpawnthatshehaddecidedonalready,puttingitonthefourthrank.Thedirectorhandedheranenvelopeandsteppeddiscreetlybackafewsteps.Girevroseandturnedawaypolitely.Bethwrote“P-QR4”onherscoresheet,foldedit,putitintheenvelopeandhandedittothetournamentdirector.
Shestoodupstifflyandlookedaroundher.Therewerenomoregamesinprogress,althoughafewplayerswerestillthere,someseatedandsomestanding,lookingoverpositionsontheboards.Afewwerehuddledoverboards,analyzinggamesthathadended.
Girevhadcomebacktothetable.Hisfacewasveryserious.“MayIasksomething?”hesaid.
“Yes.”
“InAmerica,”hesaid,“Iamtoldthatoneseesfilmsincars.Isthistrue?”
“Drive-ins?”shesaid.“Youmeandrive-inmovies?”
“Yes.ElvisPresleymoviesthatyouwatchfrominsideacar.DebbieReynoldsandElizabethTaylor.Thathappens?”
“Itsuredoes.”
Helookedather,andsuddenlyhisearnestfacebrokeintoabroadsmile.“Iwoulddigthat,”hesaid.“Iwouldcertainlydigthat.”
***
Mrs.WheatleysleptsoundlythroughthenightandwasstillsleepingwhenBethgotup.Bethfeltrefreshedandalert;shehadgonetosleepworriedabouttheadjournedgamewithGirev,butshefeltallrightaboutitinthemorning.Thepawnmovehadbeenstrongenough.ShewalkedbarefootfromthesofawhereshehadbeensleepingtothebedwhereMrs.Wheatleylayandfeltherforehead.Itwascool.Bethkissedherlightlyonthecheekandwentintothebathroomandshowered.
