Ход королевы

           Wheatleyhadoncedescribedthingsaslookingaskew;thatwashowtheylookedtoBethwhensheawokefromherdeep,tranquilizedsleep.ButshenolongerfeltthehumiliationshehadfeltafterbeingbeatenbyBenny.Shetookherpillbottlefromthebedstanddrawerandsqueezedthetoponittight.Itwouldnotdototakeanymore.Notuntilthetournamentwasover.ShethoughtsuddenlyofThursday,thedayshewouldplayBenny,andshetensed.Butsheputthepillsbackinthedrawerandgotdressed.Sheatebreakfastearlyanddrankthreecupsofstrongcoffeewithit.Thenshetookabriskwalkaroundthemainpartofthecampus,playingthroughoneofthegamesfromBennyWatts’sbook.Hewasbrilliant,shetoldherself,butnotunbeatable.Anyway,shewouldn’tplayhimforthreemoredays.

           Thegamesstartedatoneandwentonuntilfourorfiveintheafternoon.Adjournmentswerefinishedeitherintheeveningorthemorningofthenextday.Bynoonherheadwasclearandwhenshestartedheroneo’clockgameagainstatall,silentCalifornianinaBlackPowerT-shirt,shewasreadyforhim.AlthoughheworehishairinakindofAfro,hewaswhite—asallofthemwere.SheansweredhisEnglishOpeningwithbothknights,makingitafour-knightsgame,anddecidedagainsthernormalpracticetotradehimdowntoanendgame.Itworkedbeautifully,andshewaspleasedwithherhandlingofthepawns;shehadoneonthesixthandoneontheseventhrankwhenheresigned.Itwaseasierthanshehadexpected;herendgamestudywithBeltikhadpaidoff.