Ход королевы

           Everynowandthenshewouldseeaglimmerofapossibilitywaydowntheline,eightortenmovesaway,butshewasneverabletomakeitmaterialize.Hehadbroughthisrooktothethirdrankandputitabovehiscastledking;itsmovementwaslimitedtheretothreesquares.Ifshecouldonlyfindawaytotrapitbeforeheliftedtheknightthathelditback.Sheconcentratedonitasstronglyassheknewhow,feelingforamomentasthoughtheintensityofherconcentrationmightburntherookofftheboardlikealaserbeam.Sheattackeditmentallywithknights,pawns,thequeen,evenwithherking.Shementallyforcedhimtoraiseapawnsothatitcutofftwooftherook’sflightsquares,butshecouldfindnothing.

           Feelingdizzyfromtheeffort,shepulledherelbowsoffthetable,putherarmsinherlap,shookherheadandlookedatherclock.Shehadlessthanfifteenminutes.Alarmed,shelookeddownatherscoresheet.Shehadtomakethreemoremovesbeforeherflagfellorshewouldforfeit.Luchenkohadfortyminutesleftonhisclock.Therewasnothingtodobutmove.Shehadalreadyconsideredknighttoknightfiveandknewitwassound,althoughofnoparticularhelp.Shemovedit.Hisreplywaswhatsheexpected,forcinghertobringtheknightbacktokingfour,whereshehadplannedforittobeinthefirstplace.Shehadsevenminutesleft.Shestudiedcarefullyandputherbishoponthediagonalthathisrooksaton.Hemovedtherook,assheknewhewould.