Ход королевы

           Shewasgladhehadn’tbeenbotheringher.

           Hehadafoldednewspaperunderhisarm.Hepulleditoutandhandedittoher.ItwasPravda.Shecouldn’tpenetratetheboldfaceCyrillicoftheheadlines,butwhensheflippeditover,thebottomofpageonehadherpictureonit,playingFlento.Itfilledthreecolumns.Shestudiedthecaptionforamomentandmanagedtotranslateit:“SurprisingstrengthfromtheU.S.”

           “Nice,isn’tit?”Boothsaid.

           “Waittillthistimetomorrow,”shesaid.

           ***

           Luchenkowasfifty-seven,butBorgovwasthirty-eight.Borgovwasalsoknownasanamateursoccerplayerandonceheldacollegiaterecordforthejavelinthrow.Hewassaidtoexercisewithweightsduringatournament,usingagymthatthegovernmentkeptopenlateespeciallyforhim.Hedidnotsmokeordrink.Hehadbeenamastersincetheageofeleven.ThealarmingthingaboutplayingoverhisgamesfromChessInformantandShakmatnivUSSRwasthathelostsofewofthem.

           Butshehadthewhitepieces.Shemusthangontothatadvantagefordearlife.ShewouldplaytheQueen’sGambit.Bennyandshehaddiscussedthatforhours,monthsbefore,andfinallyagreedthatthatwasthewaytogoifsheshouldgetWhiteagainsthim.ShedidnotwanttoplayagainstBorgov’sSicilian,muchassheknewabouttheSicilian,andtheQueen’sGambitwasthebestwaytoavoidit.Shecouldholdhimoffifshekeptherhead.Theproblemwasthathedidn’tmakemistakes.