Ход королевы

           Shetooktheknightoffthediagonalandputitnotonkingfive,butonqueenbishopfive,offeringittohisqueen.Ifhisqueentookit,shewouldtaketherookforherbishop.Thatinitselfwouldbenogoodforher—payingfortherookwiththeknightandthebishop—butwhatLuchenkohadn’tseenwasthatshewouldgethisknightinreturnbecauseofthequeenmove.Itwassweet.Itwasverysweet.Shelookeduphesitantlyathim.

           Shehadnotlookedathiminalmostanhour,andhisappearancewasasurprise.Hehadloosenedhistie,anditwastwistedtoonesideofhiscollar.Hishairwasmussed.Hewasbitinghisthumbandhisfacewasshockinglydrawn.

           Hegaveitahalf-hourandfoundnothing.Finallyhetooktheknight.Shetooktherook,wantingtoshoutwithjoyasitcameofftheboard,andhetookherbishop.Thenshechecked,heinterposed,andshepushedthepawnuptotheknight.Shelookedathimagain.Thegamewouldbeevennow.Theelegantlookwasgone.Hehadbecomearumpledoldmaninanexpensivesuit,anditsuddenlyoccurredtoherthatshewasn’ttheonlyoneexhaustedbythegamesofthepastsixdays.Luchenkowasfifty-seven.Shewasnineteen.AndshehadworkedoutwithJoleneforfivemonthsinLexington.

           Fromthatpointon,theresistancelefthim.Therewasnoclearpositionalreasonwhysheshouldbeabletohurryhimtoaresignationaftertakinghisknight;itwasatheoreticallyevengame.Hisqueensidepawnswerestronglyplaced.