Ход королевы

           TheHolyWordisanathematotheKremlin,anditisoneofthemajorpurposesofChristianCrusadetocontesttheKremlinandtheatheistswhositthere.”

           “Ihavenoquarrelwiththat,”Bethsaid.

           “Good.Whatwewantisastatement.”ThewayMrs.BlockersaiditechoedsomethingthatBethhadrecognizedyearsbeforeinMrs.Deardorff’svoice.Itwasthetoneofthepracticedbully.Shefeltthewayshedidwhenaplayerbroughtouthisqueentoosoonagainsther.“Youwantmetomakeastatementforthepress?”

           “Exactly!”Mrs.Blockersaid.“IfChristianCrusadeisgoingto—”Shestoppedandfeltthemanilaenvelopeinherlapasthoughestimatingitsweight.“Wehadsomethingprepared.”

           Bethlookedather,hatingherandsayingnothing.

           Mrs.Blockeropenedtheclaspontheenvelopeandpulledoutasheetofpaperfilledwithtyping.ShegaveittoBeth.

           Itwasthesamestationerytheoriginalletterhadcomeon,withitslistofnamesrunningdowntheside.Bethglanceddownthelistandsaw“TelsaR.Blocker,ExecutiveSecretary,”justabovehalfadozenmen’snameswiththeabbreviation“Rev.”infrontofthem.Thenshereadthestatementquickly.Somephrasesinitwereunderlined,like“theatheist-communistnexus”and“amilitantChristianEndeavor.”ShelookedupfromthepaperatMrs.Blocker,whowassittingwithherkneespressingtogether,lookingaroundtheroomwithasubdueddislike.“I’machessplayer,”Bethsaidquietly.

           “Ofcourseyouare,mydear,”Mrs.Blockersaid.“Andyou’reaChristian.”

           “I’mnotsureofthat.”

           Mrs.