Ход королевы

           Whatifshehadalreadydoneittoherself?Whatifshehadshavedawayfromthesurfaceofherbrainwhateversynapticinterlacingshadformedhergift?SherememberedreadingsomewherethatsomepopartistonceboughtanoriginaldrawingbyMichelangelo—andhadtakenapieceofartgumanderasedit,leavingblankpaper.Thewastehadshockedher.Nowshefeltasimilarshockassheimaginedthesurfaceofherownbrainwiththetalentforchesswipedaway.

           AthomeshetriedaRussiangamebook,butshecouldn’tconcentrate.ShestartedgoingthroughhergamewithFoster,settingtheboardupinthekitchen,butthemovesofitweretoopainful.ThatdamnedStonewall,andthehastilypushedpawn.Apatzer’smove.Badchess.Hungoverchess.Thetelephonerang,butshedidn’tanswer.Shesatattheboardandwishedforamoment,painfully,thatshehadsomeonetocall.HarryBeltikwouldbebackinLouisville.Andshedidn’twanttotellhimaboutthegamewithFoster.Hewouldfindoutsoonenough.ShecouldcallBenny.ButBennyhadbeenicyafterParis,andshedidnotwanttotalktohim.Therewasnooneelse.Shegotupwearilyandopenedthecabinetnexttotherefrigerator,tookdownabottleofwhitewineandpouredherselfaglassful.Avoiceinsidehercriedoutattheoutrage,butsheignoredit.Shedrankhalfofitinonelongswallowandstoodwaitinguntilshecouldfeelit.Thenshefinishedtheglassandpouredanother.Apersoncouldlivewithoutchess.Mostpeopledid