Ход королевы

           Townes,thetwoofthemstayingtogetherinMoscow.Butthatwasnogood.ShemissedBenny,notTownes.ShemissedBenny’squickandsobermind,hisjudgmentandtenacity,hisknowledgeofchessandhisknowledgeofher.Hewouldbeintheseatbesideher,andtheycouldtalkchess,andinMoscowafterhergamestheywouldanalyzetheplayandthenplanforthenextopponent.Theywouldeattheirmealstogetherinthehotel,thewayshehaddonewithMrs.Wheatley.TheycouldseeMoscow,andwhenevertheywantedtotheycouldmakeloveattheirhotel.ButBennywasinNewYork,andshewasinadarkairplaneflyingtowardEasternEurope.

           BythetimetheycamedownthroughtheheavycloudsandshehadherfirstsightofRussia,whichlookedfromaboveasmuchlikeKentuckyasanythingelse,shehadtakenthreeofthepills,sleptfitfullyforafewhoursandwasfeelingtheglassy-eyednumbnessthatsheusedtofeelafteralongtriponaGreyhoundbus.Sherememberedtakingthepillsinthemiddleofthenight.Shehadwalkeddownanaislefullofsleepingpeopletotherestroomandgotwaterinafunny-lookinglittleplasticglass.

           Mr.Boothdidturnouttobeahelpincustoms.HisRussianwasgood,andhegotherintotherightboothfortheinspection.Whatwassurprisingwastheeaseofitall;apleasantoldmaninuniformwentcasuallythroughherluggage,openedhertwobags,pokedaroundabitandclosedthem.Thatwasit.

           Whentheycamethroughthegate,alimousinefromtheembassywaswaiting.