Ход королевы

           Wheatley’sgentlesnores,notsensingthestrangesmellofaMexicanhotelinhernostrils,feelingsomehowthatshemightfallfromaprecipice,thatsittingoverthechessboardshehadboughtatPurcell’sinKentucky,shewasactuallypoisedoveranabyss,sustainedthereonlybythebizarrementalequipmentthathadfittedherforthiselegantanddeadlygame.Ontheboardtherewasdangereverywhere.Apersoncouldnotrest.

           Shedidnotgotobeduntilafterfourand,asleep,shedreamedofdrowning.

           ***

           Afewpeoplehadgatheredintheballroom.SherecognizedMarenco,dressedinasuitandtienow;hewavedatherasshecamein,andsheforcedherselftosmileinhisdirection.Itwasfrighteningtoseeeventhisplayershehadalreadybeaten.Shewasjumpy,knewshewasjumpy,anddidnotknowwhattodoaboutit.

           Shehadshoweredatseventhatmorning,unabletoridherselfofthetensionshehadawakenedwith.Shewasbarelyabletogetdownhermorningcoffeeinthenear-emptycoffeeshopandhadwashedherfaceafterward,carefully,tryingtofocusherself.Nowshecrossedtheballroom’sredcarpetandwenttotheladies’roomandwashedherfaceagain.Shedriedcarefullywithpapertowelsandcombedherhair,watchingherselfinthebigmirror.Hermovementsseemedforced,andherbodylookedimpossiblyfrail.Theexpensiveblouseandskirtdidnotfitright.Herfearwasassharpasatoothache.

           Asshecamedownthehallway,shesawhim.Hewasstandingtheresolidlywithtwomenshedidnotrecognize.Allofthemworedarksuits.Theywereclosetogether,talkingsoftly,confidentially.