Ход королевы
Chapter 11
Shehadnotthoughtofhimasagambler.Whensheaskedaboutit,hesaidhemademoremoneyfrompokerandbackgammonthanfromchess.“Yououghttolearn,”hesaid,smiling.“You’regoodatgames.”
“Thentakemewithyou.”
“Thisone’sallmen.”
Shefrowned.“I’veheardthatsaidaboutchess.”
“Ibetyouhave.Youcancomealongandwatchifyouwantto.Butyou’llhavetokeepquiet.”
“Howlongwillitlast?”
“Allnight,maybe.”
Shestartedtoaskhimhowlonghehadknownaboutthisgame,butdidn’t.Clearlyhehadknownitbeforelastnight.SherodetheFifthAvenuebuswithhimdowntoForty-fourthStreetandwalkedwithhimovertotheAlgonquinHotel.Bennyseemedtohavehismindonsomethinghewasn’tinterestedintalkingabout,andtheywalkedinsilence.Shewasbeginningtofeelangryagain;shehadn’tcometoNewYorkforthis,andshewasannoyedatBenny’swayofofferingnoexplanationsandnoadvancenotice.Hisbehaviorwaslikehischessgame:smoothandeasyonthesurfacebuttrickyandinfuriatingbeneath.Shedidnotliketaggingalong,butshedidnotwanttogobacktotheapartmentandstudyalone.
Thegamewasinasmallsuiteonthesixthflooranditwas,ashehadsaid,allmale.Fourmenwereseatedaroundatablewithcoffeecupsandchipsandcards.Anairconditionerwhirrednoisily.Thereweretwoothermenwhoseemedmerelytobehangingaround.TheplayerslookedupwhenBennycameinandgreetedhimjokingly.Bennywascoolandpleasant.“BethHarmon,”hesaid,andthemennoddedwithoutrecognition.
