Ход королевы

           Underakindofroofedpavilioninthecenter,peoplewereseatedinrows.Theywereplayingchess.Theremusthavebeenfortyboardsgoing.ShehadseenoldmenplayinginCentralParkandWashingtonSquareinNewYork,butonlyafewatanyonetime.Hereitwasalargecrowdofmenfillingthebarn-sizedpavilionandspillingoutontothestepsofit.

           Shehesitatedamomentatthewornmarblestairsleadinguptothepavilion.Twooldmenwereplayingonabatteredclothboardonthesteps.Theolder,toothlessandbald,wasplayingKing’sGambit.TheotherwasusingtheFalkbeerCounterGambitagainstit.Itlookedold-fashionedtoBeth,butitwasclearlyasophisticatedgame.Themenignoredher,andshewalkedupthestepsandintotheshadeofthepavilionitself.

           Therewerefourrowsofconcretetableswithpaintedboardsontheirsurfaces,andapairofchessplayers,allmen,ateach.Somekibitzersstoodovertheboards.Therewasverylittletalk.Frombehindhercametheoccasionalshoutsofchildren,whichsoundedexactlythesameinRussianasinanyotherlanguage.Shewalkedslowlybetweentworowsofgames,smellingthestrongtobaccosmokefromtheplayers’pipes.Someofthemlookedupatherasshepassed,andinafewfacesshesensedrecognition,butnoonespoketoher.Theywereallold—veryold.ManyofthemmusthaveseentheRevolutionasboys.Generallytheirclothesweredark,eventhecottonshirtstheywerewearinginthewarmweatherweregray;theylookedlikeoldmenanywhere,likeamultitudeofincarnationsofMr.