Ход королевы
Chapter 9
“Readittonight,”hesaid.“ReadthegamesfromLeningrad1962andlookatthewayheplaysrook-pawnendings.LookatthegameswithLuchenkoandwithSpassky.”Hepickeduphisnear-emptycoffeecup.“Youmightlearnsomething.”
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ItwasthefirstweekinJuneandjaponciablazedinbrightcoraloutsidethekitchenwindow.Mrs.Wheatley’sazaleashadbeguntobloomandthegrassneededmowing.Therewerebirds.ItwasabeautifulweekofthebestkindofKentuckyspring.SometimeslateatnightafterBeltikhadleft,Bethwouldgoouttothebackyardtofeelthewarmthonhercheeksandtotakeafewdeepbreathsofwarmcleanair,buttherestofthetimesheignoredtheworldoutside.Shehadbecomecaughtupinchessinanewway.HerbottlesofMexicantranquilizersremainedunusedinthenightstand;thecansofbeerintherefrigeratorstayedintherefrigerator.Afterstandinginthebackyardforfiveminutes,shewouldgobackintothehouseandreadBeltik’schessbooksforhoursandthengoupstairsandfallintobedexhausted.
OnThursdayafternoonBeltiksaid,“I’msupposedtomoveintoanapartmenttomorrow.Thehotelbilliskillingme.”
TheywereinthemiddleoftheBenoniDefense.ShehadjustplayedtheP-K5hehadtaughther,onmoveeight—amoveBeltiksaidcamefromaplayernamedMikenas.Shelookedupfromtheposition.“Whereisit?Theapartment.”
“NewCircleRoad.Iwon’tbecomingbysomuch.”
“It’snotthatfar.”
“Maybenot.ButI’llbetakingclasses.Ioughttogetapart-timejob.”
“Youcouldmoveinhere,”shesaid.“Free.
