Ход королевы
Chapter 14
Butnowshewhittledawayatthepawns,throwingsubtlethreatsatthemwhileattackinghisremainingbishopandforcinghimtoprotectthekeypawnwithhisqueen.Whenhedidthat,broughtuphisqueentoholdhispawnstogether,sheknewshehadhim.Shefocusedhermindonhisking,givingfullattentiontoattack.
Thereweretwenty-fiveminutesleftonherclockandLuchenkostillhadnearlyanhour,butshegavetwentyofherminutestoworkingitoutandthenstruck,bringingherkingrookpawnuptothefourthrank.Itwasaclearannouncementofherintentions,andhegaveitlong,hardthoughtbeforemoving.Sheusedthetimehisclockwastickingtoworkitallout—everyvariationoneachofthemoveshemightmake.Shefoundananswertoanythinghemightdo,andwhenhefinallymadehismove,bringinghisqueen,wastefully,overtoprotect,sheignoredthechancetograboneofhisattackingpawnsandadvancedherkingrookpawnanothersquare.Itwasasplendidmove,andsheknewit.Herheartexultedwithit.Shelookedacrosstheboardathim.
Heseemedlostinthought,asthoughhehadbeenreadingphilosophyandhadjustsetdownthebooktocontemplateadifficultproposition.Hisfacewasgraynow,withtinywrinklesreticulatingthedryskin.Hebithisthumbagain,andshesaw,shocked,thathisbeautifulmanicureofyesterdayhadbeenchewedragged.Heglancedoveratherwithabrief,wearyglance—aglancewithgreatweightofexperienceandawholelongcareerofchessinit—andbackonefinaltimeatherrookpawn,nowonthefifthrank.Thenhestoodup.
