Ход королевы

           Bethrealizedwithsurprisethattheclimbhadbeeneasyforher.Shedecidedtotakelongwalksduringherweekthere.Maybeshecouldfindagymsomewhere.

           Whenshewalkedupthehilltothetournamentinthemorning,theairwasstillsplendidandthecolorsbright,butshewastense.Theelevatorinthebighotelwascrowded.Severalpeopleinitstaredather,andshelookedawaynervously.Themanatthedeskstoppedwhathewasdoingtheminuteshewalkedup.

           “DoIregisterhere?”sheasked.

           “Noneed,MissHarmon.Justgoonin.”

           “Whichboard?”

           Heraisedhiseyebrows.“BoardOne.”

           BoardOnewasinaroombyitself.Thetablewasonathree-foot-highplatform,andadisplayboardasbigasahome-moviescreenstoodbehindit.Oneachsideofthetablewasabigswivelchairofbrownleatherandchrome.Itwasfiveminutesbeforestartingtime,andtheroomwasjammedwithpeople;shehadtopushherwaythroughthemtotheplayingspace.Asshedidso,thebuzzoftalkdieddown.Everyonelookedather.Whensheclimbedthestepstotheplatform,theybegantoapplaud.Shetriednottoletherfaceshowanything,butshewasfrightened.Thelastgameofchessshehadplayedwasfivemonthsbefore,andshehadlostit.

           Shedidn’tevenknowwhoheropponentwas;shehadn’tthoughttoask.Shesatthereforamomentwithhermindnearlyempty,andthenanarrogant-lookingyoungmancamebrisklythroughthecrowdandupthesteps.Hehadlongblackhairandabroad,droopingmustache.