Ход королевы

           BoyscameinfromthehallwayandlinedupalongthebackwalltowatchthehomelygirlfromtheorphanageattheedgeoftownwhomovedfromplayertoplayerwiththedeterminedenergyofaCaesarinthefield,aPavlovaunderthelights.Therewereaboutadozenpeoplewatching.Somesmirkedandyawned,butotherscouldfeeltheenergyintheroom,thepresenceofsomethingthathadnever,inthelonghistoryofthistiredoldschoolroom,beenfelttherebefore.

           Whatshedidwasatbottomshockinglytrivial,buttheenergyofheramazingmindcrackledintheroomforthosewhoknewhowtolisten.Herchessmovesblazedwithit.Bytheendofanhourandahalf,shehadbeatenthemallwithoutasinglefalseorwastedmove.

           Shestoppedandlookedaroundher.Capturedpiecessatinclustersbesideeachboard.Afewstudentswerestaringather,butmostavoidedhereyes.Therewasscatteredapplause.Shefelthercheeksflush;somethinginherreachedoutdesperatelytowardtheboards,thedeadpositionsonthem.Therewasnothinglefttherenow.Shewasjustalittlegirlagain,withoutpower.

           Mr.Ganzpresentedherwithatwo-poundboxofWhitman’schocolatesandtookherouttothecar.Shirleygotinwithoutaword,carefulnottotouchagainstBethinthebackseat.TheydroveinsilencebacktotheMethuenHome.

           Fiveo’clockstudyhallwasintolerable.Shetriedplayingchessinhermind,butitseemedforoncepaleandmeaninglessaftertheafternoonatthehighschool.