Ход королевы

           Whentherefereepostedthemovesheheardanaudibleresponsefromthespectatorsandwhispering.Laevwouldhavetodosomething;hecouldnotignorethebishop.Hebeganrunninghisfingersthroughhishairwithonehand,drummingthetipsoftheothersonthetable.Bethleanedbackinthechairandstretched.Shehadhim.

           Hestudiedthemovefortwentyminutesontheclockbeforehesuddenlystoodupfromthetableandheldouthishand.Bethroseandtookit.Theaudiencewassilent.Thetournamentdirectorcameoverandshookherhandtoo,andshewalkedoffthestagewithhimtosudden,shockingapplause.

           ***

           ShewassupposedtohavelunchwithMr.Boothandsomepeoplewhowerecomingoverfromtheembassy,butwhenshewalkedintothevastlobbyofthehotel,whichfeltlikeacarpetedgymnasiumwithVictorianarmchairsliningitswalls,hewasnotthere.Theladyatthedeskhadamessageforheronasheetofpaper:“I’mreallyawfullysorry,butsomeworkhascomeupoverhereandwewon’tbeabletogetaway.I’llbeintouch.”Thenotewastyped,withMr.Booth’sname,alsotyped,atthebottom.Bethfoundoneofthehotelrestaurants—anothercarpetedgymnasiumofaroom—andmanagedenoughRussiantoorderblinchikiandteawithblackberryjam.Herwaiterwasaserious-facedboyofaboutfourteen,andheservedthelittlebuckwheatcakesontoherplateandspreadthemeltedbutterandcaviarandsourcreamforherwithalittlesilverspoon.