Ход королевы
Chapter 14
He’dhadthatnervouswayofdrumminghisfingersonthetableandscowling,butwhenheresignedhelookedonlydistantandtired.
Finally,restedabit,shegotoutofbed,putonjeansandherwhiteT-shirt,andopenedtheheavydraperiesatthewindow.Eightfloorsbelowwassomekindofconvergenceofboulevardswithafewcarsdottingtheiremptiness,andbeyondtheboulevardswasaparkdensewithtrees.Shedecidedtotakeawalk.
Butwhenshewasputtingonhersocksandshoes,shebegantothinkaboutDuhamel,whomshewouldbeplayingWhiteagainsttomorrow.Sheknewonlytwoofhisgames,andtheywentbackafewyears.Thereweremorerecentonesinthemagazinesshehadbrought;sheshouldgooverthemnow.ThentherewashisgamewithLuchenkothatwasstillinprogresswhensheleft.Itwouldbeprintedupalongwiththeotherthreeandhandedouttonightwhentheplayersmetforanofficialdinnerhereinthehotel.Shehadbetterdoafewsit-upsandkneebendsnowandtakeawalksomeothertime.
Thedinnerwasabore,butmorethanthat,itwasinfuriating.BethwasseatedatoneendofthelongtablewithDuhamel,FlentoandHellström;theRussianplayerswereattheotherendwiththeirwives.BorgovsatattheheadofthetablewiththewomanBethhadseenhimwithattheMexicoCityZoo.TheRussianslaughedthroughoutthemeal,drinkingenormousquantitiesofteaandgesturingbroadly,whiletheirwiveslookedattheminadoringsilence.EvenLaev,whohadbeensowithdrawnatthetournamentthatmorning,wasebullient.AllofthemseemedtobepointedlyignoringBeth’sendofthetable.
