Ход королевы
Chapter 10
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ShetookitfromBarnes,hadalongdrinkandsetthehalf-emptycuponthecoffeetable.“Goahead,”shesaidtoBenny.Shefeltverygood.Thespringmorningoutdoorswasallright,butthiswaswhatsheloved.
Hebeatherwithonlythreeminutesonhisclock.Sheplayedwellbutheplayedbrilliantly,movingalmostimmediatelyeachtime,seeingthroughwhatevershetrieddoingtohim.Shehandedhimafive-dollarbillfromthebillfoldinherpocketandsetupthepiecesagain,thistimetakingtheblackonesforherself.Therewerefourotherplayersstandingnearbynow,watchingthem.
ShetriedtheSicilianagainsthispawntokingfour,buthewipeditawaywithapawngambitandgotherintoanirregularopening.Hewasincrediblyfast.Shehadhimintroubleatmidgamewithdoubledrooksonanopenfile,butheignoredthemandattackeddownthecenter,lettinghercheckhimtwicewiththerooks,exposinghisking.Butwhenshetriedtobringaknightintoitformate,hespranglooseandwasatherqueenandthenherking,catchingherfinallyinamatingnet.Sheresignedbeforehecouldmoveinforthekill.Shegavehimatenthistimeandhegaveherthefiveback.Shehadsixtydollarsinherpocketandmoremoneybackattheroom.
Bynoontherewerefortyormorepeoplewatching.Mostoftheplayersfromthetournamentweretherealongwithsomeofthespectatorswhoregularlyattendedthegames,collegestudentsandagroupofmenwhomighthavebeenprofessors.SheandBennykeptplaying,noteventalkingnowbetweengames.
