Ход королевы

           Theykeptitupforsixdays,leavingtheapartmentonlywhennecessaryandonce,onWednesdaynight,goingtoamovie.BennydidnotownaTV,orastereo;hisapartmentwasforeating,sleepingandchess.TheyplayedthroughtheHastingsbookletandtheRussianone,notmissingagameexceptforthegrandmasterdraws.

           OnTuesdayshegotherlawyerinKentuckyonthephoneandaskedhimtoseeifeverythingwasallrightatthehouse.ShewenttoBenny’sbranchofChemicalBankandopenedanaccountwiththewinner’scheckfromOhio.Itwouldtakefivedaysforittoclear.Shehadenoughtraveler’scheckstopayhershareoftheexpensesuntilthen.

           Theydidremarkablylittletalkingduringthefirstweek.Nothingsexualhappened.Bethhadnotforgottenaboutit,butshewastoobusygoingoverchessgames.Whentheyfinished,sometimesatmidnight,shewouldsitforawhileonapillowonthefloorortakeawalktoSecondorThirdAvenueandgetanicecreamoraHersheybaratadeli.Shewentintononeofthebars,andsheseldomstayedoutlong.NewYorkcouldbegrimanddangerous-lookingatnight,butthatwasn’tthereason.Shewastootiredtodomorethangobacktotheapartment,pumpuphermattressandgotosleep.

           SometimesbeingwithBennywaslikebeingwithnooneatall.Forhoursatatimehewouldbecompletelyimpersonal.Somethinginherrespondedtothat,andshebecameimpersonalandcoolherself,communicatingnothingbutchess.

           Butsometimesitwouldchange.