Ход королевы
Chapter 12
”Frenchmen,andsheunderstoodthewords!Shestoppedwalkingandstoodwhereshewasforamoment,takinginthefinegraybuildingsacrosstheavenue,thelightonthetrees,theoddsmellsofthishumanecity.Shemighthaveanapartmentheresomeday,ontheBoulevardRaspailortheRuedesCapucines.BythetimeshewasinhertwentiesshecouldbeWorld’sChampionandlivewherevershewantedtolive.ShecouldhaveapiedàterreinParisandgotoconcertsandplays,eatluncheverydayinadifferentcafé,anddresslikethesewomenwhowalkedbyher,sosureofthemselves,sosmartintheirwell-madeclothes,withtheirheadshighandtheirhairimpeccablycutandcombedandshaped.Shehadsomethingthatnoneofthemhad,anditcouldgiveheralifethatanyonemightenvy.Bennyhadbeenrighttourgehertoplayhereandthen,nextsummer,inMoscow.TherewasnothingtoholdherinKentucky,inherhouse;shehadpossibilitiesthatwereendless.
Shewanderedtheboulevardsforhours,notstoppingtobuyanything,justlookingatpeopleandbuildingsandshopsandrestaurantsandtreesandflowers.OncesheaccidentallybumpedintoanoldladywhilecrossingtheRuedelaPaixandfoundherselfsaying,“Excusez-moi,madame”aseasilyasifshehadbeenspeakingFrenchallherlife.
Therewastobeareceptionatthebuildingthetournamentwasinatfour-thirty;shehaddifficultyfindingherwaybackandwastenminuteslateandoutofbreathwhenshearrived.Theplayingtableshadallbeenpushedtoonesideoftheroom,andthechairsplacedaroundthewalls.
