Ход королевы

           Butattentionwascenteredonthattable,andthespectators,whohadalreadyfilledtheseatsandnowincludedadozenpeoplestanding,allbecamequietassheseatedherself.Bennycameinaminuteaftershedid;therewaswhisperingwhenhearrivedatthetableandsatdown.Shelookedoveratthecrowd,andathoughtthathadbeenpresentinhermindsuddenlysolidifieditself:thetwoofthemwerethebestplayersinAmerica.

           Bennywaswearinghisfadeddenimshirtwithasilvermedalliononachain.Hissleeveswererolleduplikealaborer’s.Hewasnotsmiling,andhelookedagooddealolderthantwenty-four.Heglancedbrieflyatthecrowd,noddedalmostimperceptiblytoBeth,andstaredattheboardasthetournamentdirectorsignaledforthegamestobegin.Bennywasplayingthewhitepieces.Bethpunchedhisclock.

           Heplayedpawntokingfour,andshedidnothesitate;sherepliedwithpawntoqueenbishopfour:theSicilian.Hebroughtoutthekingknight,andsheplayedpawntokingthree.TherewasnopointinusinganobscureopeningagainstBenny.Heknewopeningsbetterthanshe.Theplacetogethimwouldbeinthemiddlegame,ifshecouldmountanattackbeforehedid.Butfirstshewouldhavetogetequality.

           Shefeltasensationshehadfeltonlyoncebefore,inMexicoCityplayingBorgov:shefeltlikeachildtryingtooutsmartanadult.Whenshemadehersecondmove,shelookedacrosstheboardatBennyandsawthequietseriousnessofhisfaceandfeltunreadyforthisgamewithhim.Butitwasn’tso.