Ход королевы

           Theydrovethroughfieldswheremenandwomenwereworkinginearly-morningsunlight,andatoneplacealongtheroadshesawthreeenormoustractors,farbiggerthananythingshehadseeninAmerica,drivingslowlyacrossafieldthatstretchedasfarasshecouldsee.Therewasverylittleothertrafficontheroad.Thecarstartedmovingthroughrowsofsix-andeight-storybuildingswithtinywindows,andsinceitwasawarmJunemorningevenunderthegraysky,peoplesittingonthedoorsteps.Thentheroadbegantobroaden,andtheydrovepastasmallgreenparkandanotherlargeoneandpastsomeenormous,newerbuildingsthatlookedasiftheyhadbeenbuilttolastforever.Thetraffichadbecomeheavierandtherewerepeopleonbicyclesatonesideoftheroadnowandagreatmanypedestriansonthesidewalks.

           Mr.Boothwasleaningbackinhisrumpledsuitwithhiseyeshalfclosed.Bethsatstifflyinthebackofthelongcar,lookingoutthewindowonherside.TherewasnothingthreateningaboutthewayMoscowlooked;shecouldhavebeenenteringanylargecity.Butshecouldnotloosenupinside.Thetournamentwouldstartthenextmorning.Shefelttotallyalone,andfrightened.

           ***

           HerteacherattheUniversityhadtalkedabouthowRussiansdrankteafromglasses,strainingitthroughalumpofsugarheldbetweentheteeth,buttheteaservedinthisbigdarkparlorofaroomwasinthinchinacupswithaGreekkeydesigningold.