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Chapter 11
HehadlookedthatwayduringtheawardsceremonyandduringthetimeshedidherinterviewsandsignedautographsandthankedtheofficialsandtheUSCFpeoplewhohadcomedownfromupstateNewYorktotalkabouttheimportanceofchess.Hisfacewasblanknow.Sheturnedhereyestotheroad.
Afterawhilehespokeup.“WhenyougotoRussiaIwanttogowithyou.”
Thatwasasurprise.Theyhadn’ttalkedaboutRussia,orchess,sincegettinginthecar.“Asmysecond?”
“Whatever.Ican’taffordtopayexpenses.”
“Youwantmetopaythem?”
“Somethingwillturnup.Whileyouwereinterviewedbythatmagazine,ItalkedtoJohanssen.Hesaidtherewouldn’tbeanyFederationmoneyforseconds.”
“I’monlythinkingaboutParis,”shesaid.“Ihaven’tdecidedtogotoMoscowyet.”
“You’llgo.”
“Idon’tevenknowifI’mgoingtostaymorethanafewdayswithyou.Ihavetogetapassport.”
“WecandothatinNewYork.”
Shestartedtosaysomethingbutdidn’t.ShelookedatBenny.Nowthatblanknesshadlefthisface,shefeltwarmertowardhim.Shehadmadelovetotwomeninherlife,anditwashardlymakinglove;ifsheandBennywenttobedtogether,therewouldbemoretoit.Shewouldseetherewasmoretoit.Theywouldbeinhisapartmentbymidnight;maybesomethingwouldhappenthere.Maybehewouldfeeldifferentlyathome.
“Let’splaychess,”Bennysaid.“I’llbeWhite.Pawntokingfour.”
Sheshrugged.“Pawntoqueenbishopfour.”
“N,”hesaid,usingtheletterfor“knight.”“K-B3.”
“Pawntoqueenthree.
