Ход королевы

           ShetriedforawhiletoconversewithFlento,buthisEnglishwaspoorandhisfixedsmilemadeheruncomfortable.Afterafewminutesoftrying,sheconcentratedonhermealanddidwhatshecouldtotuneoutthenoisefromtheotherendofthetable.

           Afterdinnerthetournamentdirectorhandedoutprintedsheetswiththeday’sgames.Intheelevatorshestartedgoingthroughthem,beginningwithBorgov’s.Theothertwoweredraws,butBorgovhadwonhis.Decisively.

           ***

           Thedriverbroughthertothehallbyadifferentroutethenextmorning,andthistimeshecouldseethehugecrowdinthestreetoutsidewaitingtogetin,someofthemwithdarkumbrellasagainstthemorningdrizzle.Hetookhertothesamesideentranceshehadusedthedaybefore.Therewereabouttwentypeoplestandingthere.Whenshegotoutandhurriedpastthemintothebuildingtheyapplaudedher.Someoneshouted,“LisabetaHarmon!”justbeforethedoormanclosedthedoorbehindher.

           OntheninthmoveDuhamelmadeanerrorinjudgment,andBethpouncedonit,pinninghisknightinfrontofarook.Itwouldcramphimforamomentwhileshegotoutherotherbishop.Sheknewfromstudyinghisgamesthathewascautiousandstrongatdefense;shehaddecidedthenightbeforetowaituntilshegotachanceandthenoverwhelmhim.Bythefourteenthmoveshehadbothbishopsaimedathisking,andontheeighteenthshehadtheirdiagonalsopened.Hehidfromit,usinghisknightscleverlytoholdheroff,butshebroughtoutherqueen,anditbecametoomuchforhim.Histwentiethmovewasahopelesstryatwardingheroff.