Ход королевы

           Shaibel,playingoutgamesthatnoonewouldeverpayattentionto.OnseveraltableslaycopiesofShakmatnivUSSR.

           Atonetablewherethepositionlookedinteresting,shestoppedforamoment.ItwastheRichter-Rauzer,fromtheSicilian.ShehadwrittenasmallpieceonitforChessReviewafewyearsbefore,whenshewassixteen.Themenwereplayingitright,andBlackhadaslightvariationinhispawnsthatshehadneverseenbefore,butitwasclearlysound.Itwasgoodchess.First-classchess,beingplayedbytwooldmenincheapworkingclothes.ThemanplayingWhitemovedhisking’sbishop,lookedupatherandscowled.Foramomentshefeltpowerfullyself-consciousamongalltheseoldRussianmenwithhernylonsandpale-blueskirtandgraycashmeresweater,herhaircutandshapedintheproperwayforayoungAmericangirl,herfeetinpumpsthatprobablycostasmuchmoneyasthesemenusedtoearninamonth.

           Thenthewrinkledfaceofthemanwhowasstaringatherbrokeintoabroad,gap-toothedsmile,andsaid,“Harmon?ElisabetaHarmon?”and,surprised,shesaid,“Da.”Beforeshecouldreactfurther,hestoodupandthrewhisarmsaroundherandhuggedherandlaughed,repeating,“Harmon!Harmon!”overandover.Andthentherewasacrowdofoldmeningrayclothesaroundhersmilingandeagerlyholdingouttheirhandsforhertoshake,eightortenofthemtalkingtoheratonce,inRussian.

           ***

           HergameswithHellströmandShapkinwererigorous,grimandexhausting,butshewasneverinanyrealdanger.