Ход королевы
Chapter 10
Whatwouldyoudo?”
Shelookedatitamoment.“TheLopez?”
“That’sright.”
Shewasalittleirritated.Shewantedacupofcoffee.Thepositionwasdelicate,andittookconcentration.Theotherplayersremainedsilent.Finallyshesawwhatwasneeded.Shebentoverwordlessly,pickeduptheknightatkingthreeandsetitdownonqueenfive.
“See!”Bennysaidtotheothers,laughing.
“Maybeyou’reright,”oneofthemsaid.
“IknowI’mright.AndBethherethinksthesamewayIdo.Thepawnmove’stooweak.”
“Thepawnworksonlyifheplayshisbishop,”Bethsaid,feelingbetter.
“Exactly!”Bennysaid.Hewaswearingjeansandsomekindofloosewhiteblouse.“Howaboutsomeskittles,Beth?”
“Iwasonmywayforcoffee,”shesaid.
“Barnes’llgetyoucoffee.Won’tyou,Barnes?”Abig,soft-lookingyoungman,agrandmaster,noddedassent.“Sugarandcream?”
“Yes.”
Bennywaspullingadollarbilloutofhisjeanspocket.HehandedittoBarnes.“Getmesomeapplejuice.Butnotinoneofthoseplasticcups.Getamilkglass.”
Bennysettheclockbytheboard.Heheldouttwopawnsconcealedinhishands,andthehandBethtappedhadthewhiteone.AftertheysetupthepiecesBennysaid,“Wouldyouliketobet?”
“Bet?”
“Wecouldplayforfivedollarsagame.”
“Ihaven’thadmycoffeeyet.”
“Hereitcomes.”BethsawBarneshurryingacrosstheroomwithaglassofjuiceandawhiteStyrofoamcup.
“Okay,”shesaid.“Fivedollars.”
“Havesomecoffee,”Bennysaid,“andI’llpunchyourclock.
