Ход королевы

           YettheCyrilliccharacterswereirritating.ItangeredherthattheSovietgovernmentputsomuchmoneyintochess,andthattheyevenusedadifferentalphabetfromhers.Whentheeggsweredone,shepeeledthemintoabowlwithbutterandbeganplayingagamebetweenPetrosianandTal.GrünfeldDefense.Semi-SlavVariation.Shegotittotheblackkingknightonqueentwofortheeighthmoveandthenbecameboredwithit.Shehadbeenmovingthepiecestoofastforanalysis,notstoppingherselfasBennywouldhavemadeherdototraceouteverythingthatwasgoingon.Shefinishedthelastspoonfulofeggandwentoutthebackdoorintothegarden.

           Itwasahotmorning.Thegrassintheyardwasovergrown,itnearlycoveredthelittlebrickpathwaythatwenttowheresomeshabbytearosesstood.Shewentbackintothehouseandplayedthewhiterooktoqueenoneandthenstaredatit.Shedidnotwanttostudychess.Thatwasfrightening;avastamountofstudylayaheadofherifshewantedtoavoidhumiliationinMoscow.Shepusheddownthefearandwentupstairsforashower.Asshedriedherhair,shesawwithakindofreliefthatsheneededtohaveitcut.Thatwouldbesomethingtodotoday.AfterwardshecouldgotoPurcell’sandlookatsofasforthelivingroom.Butitwouldn’tbewisetobuy—notuntilshehadmoremoney.Andhowcouldshegetthelawnmowed?AboyhaddoneitforMrs.Wheatley,butshedidn’tknowhistelephonenumberoraddress.

           Sheneededtocleanuptheplace.Therewerecobwebsandmessy-lookingsheetsandpillowcases.Shecouldusesomenewones.Somenewclothes,too.