Ход королевы

           ”

           Shefeltfrightened,andshedidnotwanttoplaychess.ShehadnotlookedatachessbookortouchedherpiecessincebuyingthehousefromAllstonWheatley.Shedidnotwanteventothinkaboutchess.Lastnight’sbottlewasstillsittingonthecounternexttothetoaster.Shepouredhalfaglass,butwhenshedrankit,itstunghermouthandtastedfoul.Shesettheunfinishedglassinthesinkandgotorangejuicefromtherefrigerator.Ifshedidn’tclearherheadandplaythetournament,shewouldjustbedrunkertomorrowandsicker.Shefinishedtheorangejuiceandwentupstairs,thinkingofallthewineshehadbeendrinking,rememberingitinthepitofherstomach.Herinsidesfeltfouledandabused.Sheneededahotshowerandfreshclothes.

           Itwouldbeawaste.Beltikwouldn’tbeinit,andtherewasnooneelseasgoodashe.Kentuckywasnothinginchess.Standingnakedinthebathroom,shestartedgoingthroughtheLevenfishVariationoftheSicilian,squintinghereyesandpicturingthepiecesonanimaginaryboard.Shedidthefirstdozenmoveswithoutamistake,althoughthepiecesdidn’tstandoutasclearlyastheyhadayearbefore.Shehesitatedaftermoveeighteen,whereBlackplayedpawntoknightfourandgotequality.Smyslov-Botvinnik,1958.Shetriedtoplayouttherestofit,butherheadwasaching,andafterstoppingtotaketwoaspirin,shewasn’tsurewherethepawnsweresupposedtobe.Butshehadgottenthefirsteighteenmovesright.Shewouldstaysobertodayandplaytomorrow.