Ход королевы

           Hehadusedhisbishopfortakingherrookandnowitcouldnotstopherknight.Theknightwouldforcethekingaside.Thewhitepawnwouldqueen,andmatewouldfollowinfourmoves.Mateinnineteen.

           Sheopenedhereyesandsquintedforamomentatthebrightnessofthestagebeforelookingatherclock.Shehadtwelveminutesleft.Hereyeshadbeenclosedforoveranhour.Ifshehadmadeanerror,therewouldbenotimeforanewstrategy.Shereachedforwardandmovedthekingknightpawntothefifthrank.Therewasastabofpaininhershoulderasshesetitdown;hermusclesfeltrigid.

           Borgovadvancedhiskingtostopthepawn.Sheadvancedtheknight,forcinghimtoprotect.Itwasgoingthewayshehadseenitwouldgo.Thetightnessofherbodybegantoloosen,andoverthenextmovestherebegantospreadthroughherafinesenseofcalm.Shemovedthepieceswithdeliberatespeed,punchingtheclockfirmlyaftereach,andgraduallyBorgov’sresponsesbegantoslow.Hewastakingmoretimebetweenmovesnow.Shecouldseeuncertaintyinthehandthatpickedupthepieces.Whenthethreatenedhurdlewasdonewithandsheinchedthepawntothesixthrank,shewatchedhisface.Hisexpressiondidnotchangebuthereachedupandranhisfingersthroughhishair,rufflingit.Athrillpassedthroughherbody.

           Whensheadvancedthepawntotheseventhrank,sheheardasoftgruntfromhimasthoughshehadpunchedhiminthestomach.Ittookhimalongtimetobringthekingovertoblockit.

           Shewaitedjustamomentbeforelettingherhandmoveoutovertheboard.