Ход королевы
Chapter 14
Shehadbeatenthem.ShehadbeatentheRussianestablishment,hadbeatenLuchenko,ShapkinandLaev,hadforcedBorgovtoresign.IntwoyearsshecouldbeplayingBorgovfortheWorldChampionship.Shehadtoqualifyfirstbywinningthecandidatesmatch,butshecouldwinit.Aneutralplacewouldbechosen,andshewouldmeetBorgov,headtohead,foratwenty-four-gamematch.Shewouldbetwenty-onethen.Shedidnotwanttothinkaboutitnow.Sheclosedhereyesanddozedinthebackofthelimousine.
Whenshelookedout,sleepily,theywerestoppedatatrafficsignal.Upahead,totheright,wastheforestedparkthatwasvisiblefromherroom.Sheshookherselfawakeandleanedforwardtothedriver.“Letmeoffatthepark.”
Sunlightfilteredthroughthetreesonher.Thepeopleonthebenchesseemedtobethesamepeopleasbefore.Itdidnotmatterwhethertheyknewwhoshewasornot.Shewalkedpastthemalongthepathintotheclearing.Nobodywaslookingather.Shecametothepavilionandwalkedupthesteps.
Abouthalfwaydownthefirstrowofconcretetablesanoldmanwassittingalonewiththepiecessetupinfrontofhim.Hewasinhissixtiesandworetheusualgraycapandgraycottonshirtwiththesleevesrolledup.Whenshestoppedathistablehelookedatherinquisitively,buttherewasnorecognitiononhisface.ShesatbehindtheblackpiecesandsaidcarefullyinRussian,“Wouldyouliketoplaychess?”
