Ход королевы

           “Ilookforwardkeenlytoplayingyou.”Hehadlongwhitehairlikeanorchestraconductor’sandworeanimpeccablesilverynecktie,beautifullyknottedunderastarchedwhitecollar.Thewarmthinhisfacewasunquestionable.“Thankyou,”shesaid.ShehadreadofLuchenkoinJuniorHigh;ChessReviewwroteofhimwiththekindofawethatBethfeltnow.HehadbeenWorldChampionthen,losingtoBorgovinalongmatchseveralyearsago.

           Theywalkeddownthehallagooddistancebeforethedirectorstoppedatanotherdoorandopenedit.Borgovwentinfirst,andtheothersfollowed.

           Theywereinsomekindofanteroomwithacloseddooronthefarside.Bethcouldhearadistantwaveofsound,andwhenthedirectorwalkedoverandopenedthedoorthesoundbecamelouder.Nothingwasvisibleexceptadarkcurtain,butwhenshecouldseearoundit,shesuckedinherbreath.Shewasfacingavastauditoriumfilledwithpeople.ItwasliketheviewfromthestageofRadioCityMusicHallmightbewitheveryseatfilled.Thecrowdstretchedbackforhundredsofyards,andtheaisleshadfoldingchairssetupinthemwithsmallgroupsclusteredtogethertalking.Astheplayerscameacrossthewidecarpetedstage,thesounddied.Everyonestaredatthem.Upabovethemainfloorwasabroadbalcony,withahugeredbannerdrapedacrossit,andabovethiswasrowafterrowofmorefaces.

           Onthestagewerefourlargetables,eachthesizeofadesk,eachclearlynewandinlaidwithalargechessboardonwhichthepieceswerealreadysetup.