Ход королевы
Chapter 11
Noonehadevergivenheranythinginthemorning—certainlynotMrs.Wheatley,whowasneverupbeforeBethhadeatenherbreakfast.Shetooktheplastictopoffandtastedthecoffee.“Thanks,”shesaid.
“Dressinthebedroom,”Bennysaid.
“Ineedashower.”
“It’sallyours.”
***
Bennyhadsetupafoldingcardtablewithagreenandbeigechessboardonit.Hewasarrangingthepieceswhenshecameintothelivingroom.“Okay,”hesaid,“we’llstartwiththese.”Hehandedherarollofpamphletsandmagazineswrappedwitharubberband.Ontopwasasmallpamphletwithacheappapercoverreading“TheHastingsChristmasChessCongress—FalaiseHall,WhiteRockGardens,”andunderthis,“ARecordofGames.”Thepagesinsideweredensewithtype,smudgilyprinted.Thereweretwochessgamesonapage,withboldfacecaptions:Luchenko—Uhlmann;Borgov—Penrose.Hehandedheranother,titledsimplyGrandmasterChess.ItwasmuchliketheHastingsbooklet.ThreeofthemagazineswerefromGermany,andonewasfromRussia.
“We’llplaythroughtheHastingsgames,”Bennysaid.Hewentintothebedroomandcamebackwithtwoplainwoodenchairs,settingoneoneachsideofthecardtablenearthefrontwindow.Thetruckwasstillparkedoutsideandthestreetwasfullofslow-movingcars.“YouplaythewhitepiecesandI’llplayBlack.”
“Ihaven’thadbreakfast…”
“Eggsinthefridge,”Bennysaid.“We’llplaytheBorgovgamesfirst.”
“Allofthem?”
“He’llbeinPariswhenyougo.
