Ход королевы

           Therewasaburningsensationinherstomach,andhereyeswerewideopeninthedarkroomasthoughlookingforlight.Therewasapowerfulacheatthebackofherneck.Shereachedover,foundthebottleandtookmoretranquilizers.Eventuallyshewenttosleepagain.

           Sheawokethenextmorningwithacrushingheadacheandadeterminationtogetonwithhercareer.Mrs.Wheatleywasdead.HarryBeltikwasgone.TheU.S.Championshipwasinthreeweeks;shehadbeeninvitedtoitbeforegoingtoMexico,andifshewasgoingtowinit,shewasgoingtohavetobeatBennyWatts.Whilehercoffeewaspercolatinginthekitchen,shepouredouttheleftoverburgundyfromthenightbefore,threwawaytheemptybottleandfoundtwobooksshehadorderedfromMorris’sthedaytheinvitationhadcome.OnewasthegamerecordfromthelastU.S.ChampionshipandtheotherwascalledBennyWatts:MyFiftyBestGamesofChess.OnitsdustjacketwasablowupofBenny’sHuckleberryFinnface.Seeingitnow,shewincedatthememoryoflosing,atherdamnfoolattempttodoublehispawns.Shegotherselfacupofcoffeeandopenedthebook,forgettingherhangover.

           Bynoonshehadanalyzedsixofthegamesandwasgettinghungry.Therewasalittlerestauranttwoblocksaway,thekindofplacethathasliverandonionsonthemenuanddisplaycardsofcigarettelightersatthecashier’sstand.Shebroughtthebookwithherandwentovertwomoregameswhileeatingherhamburgerandhomefries.Whenthelemoncustardcameandwastoothickandsweettoeat,shefeltasuddenpangoflongingforMrs.