Ход королевы

           Tofindout,toshowtheworldifAmericahasoutgrownitsinferiorstatusinworldchess,shewillhavetogowherethebigboysare.ShewillhavetogototheSovietUnion.

           BethclosedthemagazineandpouredaglassofAlmadénMountainChablistodrinkwithherspaghetti.Itwasthreeintheafternoonandhotasfury.Andthewinewasgettinglow;onlytwomorebottlesstoodontheshelfabovethetoaster.

           ***

           AweekafterreadingtheNewsweekarticlesheawokeonaThursdaymorningtoosicktogetoutofbed.Whenshetriedtositup,shecouldn’t.Herheadandstomachwerethrobbing.ShewasstillwearingherjeansandT-shirtfromthenightbefore,andshefeltsuffocatedbythem.Butshecouldnotgetthemoff.Theshirtwasstucktoherupperbody,andshewastooweaktopullitoverherhead.TherewasaGibsononthenightstand.Shemanagedtorolloverandtakeitwithbothhands,andshegothalfofitdownbeforebeginningtoretch.Foramomentshethoughtshewaschoking,butherbreathcamebackeventuallyandshefinishedthedrink.

           Shewasterrified.Shewasaloneinthatfurnaceofaroomandfrightenedofdying.Herstomachwasrawandallofherorganshurt.Hadshepoisonedherselfonwineandgin?Shetriedsittingupagain,andwiththegininhershemanagedit.Shesatthereforafewmomentscalmingherselfbeforeshewentunsteadilyintothebathroomandvomited.Itseemedtocleanseher.Shemanagedtogetherclothesoff,andafraidofslippingintheshowerandbreakingherhipthewayunsteadyoldwomendid,shefilledthetubwithlukewarmwaterandtookabath.