Ход королевы

           Shesignaledthetournamentdirector,wrotehernextmoveonthescoresheet,holdingherotherhandoverittohideitfromLuchenko,andfoldedthesheettosealit.Whenthedirectorcameover,shesaid,“Adjournment,”andwaitedforhimtogettheenvelope.Shewasexhausted.Therewasnoapplausewhenshegotupandwalkedwearilyoffthestage.

           ***

           Itwasahotnightandshehadthewindowopeninherroomwhileshesatattheornatewritingdeskwithherchessboardonit,studyingtheadjournedposition,lookingforwaystoembarrassLuchenko’srook,ortousetherook’svulnerabilityasacoverforattackinghimsomewhereelse.Aftertwohoursofit,theheatintheroomhadbecomeunbearable.Shedecidedtogodowntothelobbyandthentakeawalkaroundtheblock—ifthatwassafeandlegal.Shefeltdizzyfromtoomuchchessandtoolittlefood.Itwouldbenicetohaveacheeseburger.Shelaughedwrylyatherself;acheeseburgerwaswhatanAmericanofatypeshethoughtshewouldneverbecravedwhentravelingabroad.God,wasshetired!Shewouldtakeabriefwalkandcomebacktobed.Shewouldn’tbeplayingtheadjournmentoutuntiltomorrownight;therewouldbemoretimeforstudyingitafterhergamewithFlento.

           Theelevatorwasatthefarendofthehall.Becauseoftheheat,severalroomswereopen,andassheapproachedoneofthemshecouldheardeepmalevoicesinsomekindofdiscussion.Whenshewasevenwiththedoorwayshelookedinside.