Ход королевы

           Whenshefinished,forcingaresignationafternearlyfourhours,shelookedupandsawthatthepiecesweregonefromthenexttableandBorgovhadleft.

           Leaving,shestoppedatthedeskandaskedwhomshewouldbeplayinginthemorning.Thedirectorshuffledthroughhispapersandsmiledfaintly.“GrandmasterBorgov,mademoiselle.”

           Shehadexpectedit,butherbreathcaughtwhenhesaidit.

           Thatnightshetookthreetranquilizersandwenttobedearly,uncertainifshecouldrelaxenoughtosleep.Butshesleptbeautifullyandawokerefreshedateight,feelingconfident,smartandready.

           ***

           Whenshecameinandsawhimsittingatthetable,hedidnotseemsoformidable.Hewaswearinghisusualdarksuit,andhiscoarseblackhairwascombedneatlybackfromhisforehead.Hisfacewas,asalways,impassive,butitdidnotlookthreatening.Hestooduppolitely,andwhensheofferedherhandheshookit,buthedidnotsmile.Shewouldbeplayingthewhitepieces;whentheyseatedthemselveshepressedthebuttononherclock.

           Shehadalreadydecidedwhattodo.DespiteBenny’sadvice,shewouldplaypawntokingfourandhopefortheSicilian.ShehadgonethroughallofBorgov’spublishedSiciliangames.Shedidit,pickingupthepawnandsettingitonthefourthrank,andwhenheplayedhisqueenbishoppawnshefeltapleasantthrill.Shewasreadyforhim.Sheplayedherknighttokingbishopthree;hebroughthistoqueenbishopthree,andbythesixthmovetheywereintheBoleslavski.