Ход королевы
Chapter 12
Ifshehadsomehowdamagedhertalent…
Andthen,onthetwenty-thirdmove,Fosterbeganaseriesoftradesinthecenteroftheboard,andshefoundherselfunabletostopit,watchingherpiecesdisappearwithasickfeelinginherstomach,watchingherpositionbecomemoreandmorestarkinitsdeterioration.Shefoundherselfplayingoutalostgame,overwhelmedbythetwo-pawnadvantageofaplayerwitharatingof1800.Therewasnothingshecoulddoaboutit.Hewouldqueenapawnandhumiliateherwithit.
Sheliftedherkingfromtheboardbeforehecoulddoitandlefttheroomwithoutlookingathim,pushingherwaythroughacrowdofpeople,avoidingtheireyes,almostholdingherbreath,goingoutintothemainroomanduptothedesk.
“I’mfeelingill,”shetoldthedirector.“I’mgoingtohavetodropout.”
ShewalkedupMain,heavy-footedandinturmoil,tryingnottothinkaboutthegame.Itwashorrible.Shehadallowedthistournamenttobeatestforher—thekindofriggedtestanalcoholicmakesforhimself—andstillshehadfailedit.Shemustnotdrinkwhenshegothome.Shemustreadandplaychessandgetherselftogether.Butthethoughtofgoingtotheemptyhousewasfrightening.Whatelsecouldshedo?Therewasnothingshewantedtodoandnoonetocall.Thegameshehadlostwasinconsequentialandthetournamentwasnothing,butthehumiliationwasoverwhelming.ShedidnotwanttoheardiscussionsabouthowshehadlosttoFoster,didnotwanttoseeFosterhimselfagain.Shemustnotdrink.ShehadarealtournamentcomingupinCaliforniainfivemonths.
