Ход королевы
Chapter 11
Butthewalkacrosstowneasedheranger,andbythetimeshegotontheThirdAvenuebustogobackuptotheapartmentonSeventy-eighthStreet,shewascalm.Shewasevenpleasedtobealoneforawhile.ShespentthetimewithBenny’sChessInformants,anewseriesofbooksfromYugoslavia,playingoutgamesinherhead.
Hecameinsometimeduringthemiddleofthenight;shewokewhenhegotintobed.Shewasgladhewasback,butshedidn’twanttomakelovewithhim.Fortunatelyhewasn’tinterestedeither.Sheaskedhimhowhehaddone.“Nearlysixhundred,”hesaid,pleasedwithhimself.Sherolledoverandwentbacktosleep.
Theymadeloveinthemorning,andshedidnotenjoyitmuch.Sheknewshewasstillangrywithhimforthepokergame—notforthegameitselfbutforthewayhehaduseditjustwhentheyhadbecomelovers.Whentheywerefinished,hesatupinbedandlookedatherforaminute.“You’repissedatme,aren’tyou?”
“Yes.”
“Thepokergame?”
“Thewayyoudidn’ttellmeaboutit.”
Henodded.“I’msorry.Idokeepmydistance.”
Shewasrelievedthathehadsaidit.“IsupposeIdotoo,”shesaid.
“I’venoticed.”
Afterbreakfastshesuggestedagamebetweenthetwoofthem,andheagreedreluctantly.Theysettheclockforahalf-houreach,tokeepitbrief,andsheproceededtobeathimhandilywithherSicilianLevenfish,brushingasidehisthreatswitheaseandhoundinghiskingmercilessly.Whenitwasoverheshookhisheadwrylyandsaid,“Ineededthatsixhundred.”
“Maybeso,”shesaid,“butyourtimingwasbad
