Chapter 14

           TheyhadtositinawaitingroomatOrlyairportforsevenhours,andwhenthetimecametoboardtheAeroflotplane,ayoungwomaninanolive-drabuniformhadtostampeverybody’sticketandstudyeverybody’spassportwhileBethandMr.Boothwaitedatthebackofthelineforanotherhour.Butitcheeredherabitwhenshefinallygottotheheadofthelineandthewomansaid,“Thechesschampion!”andsmiledbroadlyatherwithasurprisinglighteningofherfeatures.WhenBethsmiledbackather,thewomansaid,“Goodluck!”asthoughshereallymeantit.Thewomanwas,ofcourse,Russian.NoofficialinAmericawouldhaverecognizedBeth’sname.

           Herseatwasbyawindowneartheback;ithadheavybrownplasticupholsteryandalittlewhiteantimacassaroneacharm.ShegotinwithMr.Boothbesideher.ShelookedoutthewindowatthegrayParisskywiththewaterinbroadsheetsontherunwaysandtheplanesgleamingdarklyintheeveningwetness.ItfeltasifshewerealreadyinMoscow.Afterafewminutesastewardstartedhandingoutglassesofwater.Mr.Boothdrankabouthalfofhisandthenfishedinhisjacketpocket.Aftersomefumblingheproducedalittlesilverflaskandpulledthecapoffwithhisteeth.Hefilledtheglasswithwhiskey,putthecapbackonandslippedtheflaskintohispocket.ThenheheldtheglasstowardBethinaperfunctoryway,andsheshookherhead.Itwasn’teasytodo.Shecouldhaveusedadrink.Shedidnotlikethisstrange-lookingairplane,andshedidn’tlikethemansittingbesideher.

           ShehaddislikedMr.