Ход королевы

           Shewasusheredtoaseatnearthedoorandhandedasmallcupofcaféfiltre.Apastrycartwaswheeledbywiththemostbeautifulpastriesshehadeverseen.Shefeltamomentarysadness,wishingthatAlmaWheatleycouldbetheretoseethem.Justasshewastakinganapoleonfromthecartsheheardloudlaughterfromacrosstheroomandlookedup.TherewasVasilyBorgov,holdingacoffeecup.Thepeopleoneachsideofhimwerebenttowardhimexpectantly,takinginhisamusement.Hisfacewasdistortedwithponderousmirth.Bethfeltherstomachturntoice.

           ShewalkedbacktoherhotelthateveningandgrimlyplayedadozenofBorgov’sgames—gamesthatshealreadyknewthoroughlyfromstudyingthemwithBenny—andwenttobedateleven;shetooknopillsandsleptbeautifully.BorgovhadbeenanInternationalGrandmasterforelevenyearsandWorldChampionforfive,butshewouldnotgopassiveagainsthimthistime.Whateverhappenedshewouldnotbehumiliatedbyhim.Andshewouldhaveonedistinctadvantage:hewouldnotbeaspreparedforherasshewasforhim.

           ***

           Shewentonwinning,beatingaFrenchmanthenextdayandanEnglishmanonthedayafter.Borgovwonhisgamesalso.OnthenexttothelastdaywhenshewasplayinganotherDutchman—anolderandmoreexperiencedone—shefoundherselfatthetablenexttoBorgov.Seeinghimsoclosedistractedherforafewmoments,butshewasabletoshrugitoff.TheDutchmanwasastrongplayer,andsheconcentratedonthegame.