Ход королевы

           BoothfromthemomenthemetheratKennedyandintroducedhimself.AssistanttotheUndersecretary.CulturalAffairs.HewouldshowhertheropesinMoscow.Shedidnotwanttobeshownanyropes—especiallynotbythisgravellyvoicedoldmanwithhisdarksuit,archedeyebrowsandfrequenttheatricallaughter.WhenhevolunteeredtheinformationthathehadplayedchessatYaleintheforties,shesaidnothing;hehadspokenofitasthoughitwereasharedperversion.WhatshewantedwastobetravelingwithBennyWatts.Shehadn’tevenbeenabletogetholdofBennythenightbefore;hislinewasbusythefirsttwotimesshedialedandthentherewasnoanswer.ShehadaletterfromthedirectoroftheUSCFwishingherwellandthatwasall.

           Sheleanedbackagainsttheseat,closedhereyesandtriedtorelax,tuningoutthevoices,Russian,GermanandFrench,thatsurroundedher.Inapocketofherhandluggagewasabottlewiththirtygreenpills;shehadnottakenoneforoversixmonths,butshewouldhaveoneonthisairplaneifnecessary.Itwouldcertainlybebetterthandrinking.Sheneededtorest.Thelongwaitattheairporthadlefthernervesjagged.ShehadtriedtwicetogetJoleneonthephone,buttherewasnoanswer.

           WhatshereallyneededwasBennyWattsherewithher.Ifshehadn’tbeensuchafool,givingbackthatmoney,takingastandonsomethingshehadn’treallycaredabout.Thatwasn’tso.Itwasn’tbeinganassholetorefusetobebullied,tocallthatwoman’sbluff.ButsheneededBenny.ForamomentsheletherselfimaginetravelingwithD.L.