Ход королевы

           Walkingintotheboys’woodworkingshopafterbreakfast,shetookitfromabench.Noonesawherdoit.Nowshesqueezeditinherhanduntilherfingershurt,tookadeepbreath,stoodupandedgedherwaytothedoor.Mr.Fergussenwassittingthere,proctoring.

           “Bathroom,”Bethwhispered.

           Mr.Fergussennodded,hiseyesonVictorMature,bare-chestedinthearena.

           Shewalkedpurposivelydownthenarrowhallway,overthewavyplacesinthefadedlinoleum,pastthegirls’roomanddowntotheMulti-PurposeRoom,withitsChristianEndeavourmagazinesandReader’sDigestCondensedBooksand,againstthefarwall,thepadlockedwindowthatsaidPHARMACY.

           Thereweresomesmallwoodenstoolsintheroom;shepickeduponeofthem.Therewasnoonearound.Shecouldheargladiatorialshoutsfromthemovieinthelibrarybutnothingelseexceptherfootsteps.Theysoundedveryloud.

           Shesetthestoolinfrontofthewindowandclimbedontoit.Thisputherfaceonalevelwiththehaspandpadlock,atthetop.Thewindowitself,madeoffrostedglasswithchickenwireinit,wasframedinwood.Thewoodhadbeenthicklypaintedwithwhiteenamel.Bethexaminedthescrewsthatheldthepaintedhasp.Therewaspaintintheirslots.Shefrowned,andherheartbegantobeatfaster.

           DuringtheraretimeswhenDaddyhadbeenhome,andsober,hehadlikedtodolittlejobsaroundthehouse.Thehousewasanoldone,inapoorerpartoftown,andtherewasheavypaintonthewoodwork.Beth,fiveandsixyearsold,hadhelpedDaddytaketheoldswitchplatesandoutletplatesoffthewallswithhisbigscrewdriver.