Ход королевы
Chapter 14
Onthetwenty-secondheresigned.Thegamehadtakenbarelyanhour.
Theyhadplayedatthefarendofthestage;Borgov,playingFlento,wasatthenearend.Asshewalkedpasthimtothesubduedapplausetheaudiencegavewhilegameswereinprogress,heglancedupatherbriefly.ItwasthefirsttimesinceMexicoCitythathehadactuallylookeddirectlyather,andthelookfrightenedher.
Onanimpulseshewaitedforamomentjustoutofsightoftheplayingareaandthencamebacktotheedgeofthecurtainandlookedacross.Borgov’sseatwasempty.Overattheotherendhewasstanding,lookingatthedisplayboardwiththegameBethhadjustfinished.Hehadonebroadhandcuppedoverhisjawandtheotherinhiscoatpocket.Hefrownedashestudiedtheposition.Bethturnedquicklyandleft.
Afterlunch,shewalkedacrosstheboulevardandwentdownanarrowstreettothepark.TheboulevardturnedouttobeSokolnikiStreet,andtherewasagooddealoftrafficonitwhenshecrossedinalargecrowdofpedestrians.Someofthepeoplelookedatherandafewsmiled,butnoonespoke.Therainhadendedanditwasapleasantdaywiththesunhighintheskyandtheenormousbuildingsthatlinedthestreetlookingalittlelessprisonlikeinthesunshine.
Theparkwaspartlyforestedandhadalongitslanesagreatmanycast-ironbencheswitholdpeoplesittingonthem.Shewalkedalong,ignoringthestaresasbestshecould,goingthroughsomeplacesthatweredarkwithtrees,andabruptlyfoundherselfinalargesquarewithflowersgrowinginlittletrianglesdottedhereandthere.
