Ход королевы
Chapter 14
ButallofitwasmeaninglessandtrivialbesideherglimpseintotheestablishmentofRussianchess,intotheroomwherethemenconferredindeepvoicesandstudiedtheboardwithanassurancethatseemedwhollybeyondher.
TheonegoodthingwasthatheropponentwasFlento,theweakestplayerinthetournament.Hewasalreadyoutoftherunning,withaclearlossandtwodraws.OnlyBeth,BorgovandLuchenkohadneitherlostnordrawnagame.Shehadacupofteabeforeplayingbegan,andithelpedheralittle.Moreimportant,justbeinginthisroomwiththeotherplayersdispelledsomeofwhatshehadbeenfeelingduringthenight.Borgovwasdrinkingteawhenshecamein.Heignoredherasusual,andsheignoredhim,buthewasnotasfrighteningwithateacupinhishandandaquietlydulllookonhisheavyfaceashehadbeeninherimaginationthenightbefore.Whenthedirectorcametoescortthemtothestage,Borgovglancedatherjustbeforehelefttheroomandraisedhiseyebrowsslightlyasiftosay,“Herewegoagain!”andshefoundherselfsmilingfaintlyathim.Shesetdownhercupandfollowed.
SheknewFlento’serraticcareerverywellandhadmemorizedadozenofhisgames.ShehaddecidedevenbeforeleavingLexingtonthatthethingtoplayagainsthim,ifshehadthewhitepieces,wouldbetheEnglishOpening.Shestarteditnow,pushingthequeenbishoppawntothefourthrank.ItwasliketheSicilianinreverse.Shefeltcomfortablewithit.
Shewon,butittookfourandahalfhoursandwasfarmoregruelingthanshehadexpected.
