Ход королевы
Chapter 1
BethrubbedJoleneafewtimes,tryinghard,concentratingonjustdoingit.Herfacewaswetwithsweatandherfreehandwasclutchingatthesheet,squeezingitwithallhermight.
ThenJolene’sfacewasagainsthersandherarmaroundBeth’schest.“Faster,”Jolenewhispered.“Faster.”
“No,”Bethsaidaloud,terrified.“No,Idon’twantto.”Shepulledherhandaway.
“Sonofabitch,”Jolenesaidaloud.
Footstepscamerunningupthehallway,andthedooropened.Lightstreamedin.ItwasoneofthenightpeoplewhomBethdidn’tknow.Theladystoodthereforalongminute.Everythingwasquiet.Jolenewasgone.Bethdidn’tdaremovetoseeifshewasbackinherownbed.Finallythewomanleft.BethlookedoverandsawtheoutlineofJolene’sbodybackinbed.Bethhadthreepillsinthedrawer;shetookallthree.Thenshelayonherbackandwaitedforthebadtastetogoaway.
Thenextdayinthecafeteria,Bethfeltwretchedfromnotsleeping.
“Youaretheugliestwhitegirlever,”Jolenesaid,inastagewhisper.ShehadcomeuptoBethinthelineforthelittleboxesofcereal.“Yournoseisuglyandyourfaceisuglyandyourskinislikesandpaper.Youwhitetrashcrackerbitch.”
Jolenewenton,headhigh,tothescrambledeggs.
Bethsaidnothing,knowingthatitwastrue.
***
King,knight,pawn.Thetensionsontheboardwereenoughtowarpit.Thenwhack!Downcamethequeen.Rooksatthebottomoftheboard,hemmedinatfirst,butready,buildingpressureandthenremovingthepressureinasinglemove.
