Ход королевы
Chapter 10
Therewerefourteenplayers,manyofthemgrandmasters.Shewastheonlywoman.
Theyplayedinsomekindoflectureroomwithdark-greenblackboardsalongthewallatoneendandfluorescentlightsrecessedintotheceiling.Therewasarowoflargeinstitutionalwindowsalongonebluewall,withbushes,treesandawidestretchofthecampusvisiblethroughthem.Atoneendoftheroomwerefiverowsoffoldingchairs,andoutinthehallwayasignannouncedavisitor’sfeeoffourdollarspersession.Duringherfirstgametherewereabouttwenty-fivepeoplewatching.Adisplayboardhungaboveeachofthesevengametables,andtwodirectorsmovedsilentlybetweenthetables,changingthepiecesaftermoveshadbeenmadeontherealboards.Thespectators’seatswereonawoodenplatformtogivethemaviewoftheplayingsurfaces.
Butitwasallsecond-rate,eventheuniversitytheywereplayingat.Theywerethehighest-rankedplayersinthecountry,assembledhereinasingleroom,butithadthefeelofahighschooltournament.Ifitweregolfortennis,BennyWattsandshewouldbesurroundedbyreporters,wouldbeplayingundersomethingotherthanthesefluorescentlightsandonplasticboardswithcheapplasticpieces,watchedbyafewpolitemiddle-agedpeoplewithnothingbettertodo.
PhillipResnaisseemedtotakeitallseriously,butshefeltlikewalkingout.Shedidnot,however.Whenheplayedpawntokingfour,shepushedupherqueenbishoppawnandstartedtheSicilianDefense.
