Ход королевы
Chapter 12
I’llpayyouwhateveryourequityis.”
“It’sworthmorethanthatnow.”
“Howmuchmore?”
“I’dneedseventhousand.”
Sheknewhisequitywaslessthanfive.“Allright,”shesaid.
“Youhavethatmuch?”
“Yes,”shesaid.“ButI’msubtractingwhatIpaidforburyingmymother.I’llshowyouthereceipts.”
AllstonWheatleysighedlikeamartyr.“Allright,”hesaid.“Youtwocandrawupthepapers.I’mgoingbacktothehotel.”Hewalkedovertothedoor.“It’stoohotinhere.”
“Youcouldhavetakenoffyourcoat,”Bethsaid.
***
Itlefthertwothousandinthebank.Shedidn’tlikehavingsolittle,butitwasallright.Inthemailtherehadbeeninvitationstoplayintwostrongtournaments,withgoodprizemoney.Fifteenhundredforoneandtwothousandfortheother.AndtherewastheheavyenvelopefromRussia,invitinghertoMoscowinJuly.
Whenshegotbackwithhercopyofthesignedpapersshewalkedaroundthelivingroomseveraltimes,passingherhandlightlyoverpiecesoffurniture.Wheatleyhadn’tsaidanythingaboutthefurniture,butitwashers.Shehadaskedthelawyer.Wheatleyhadn’tevenshownup,andChennaulttookthepapersovertothePhoenixHotelforhimtosignwhileshewaitedintheofficeandreadaNationalGeographic.Thehousefeltdifferent,nowthatitwashers.Shewouldgetsomenewpieces—agood,lowsofaandtwosmallmodernarmchairs.Shecouldvisualizethem,withpale-bluelinenupholsteryanddarkerbluepiping.NotMrs.Wheatleyblue,butherown.Bethblue.
