Ход королевы

           Sheignoreditandkeptonwriggling,doingitmethodically,inchingforward.Shebothfeltandheardherblouseripping.Sheignoredit;shehadanotherblouseinherlockerandcouldchange.

           Nowherhandstouchedthecool,smoothsurfaceofametaltable.ThatwasthenarrowwhitetableMr.Fergussenstoodagainstwhenhegavethemtheirmedicine.Sheinchedforwardagain,andherweightcamedownonherhands.Thereweresomeboxesthere.Shepushedthemaside,clearingaplaceforherself.Nowitwaseasiertomove.Sheletherweightcomeforwardwiththesillunderherhipsuntilitscrapedthetopsofherlegsandshewasabletoletherselfflopontothetable,twistingherselfatthelastsecondsoshewouldn’tfalloffit.Shewasinside!Shetookacoupleofdeepbreathsandclimbeddown.Therewasenoughlightforhertoseeallright.Shewalkedovertothefarwallofthetinyroomandstopped,facingthedimlyvisiblejar.Ithadaglasscover.Sheliftedthisandsetitsilentlyonthetable.Thensheslowlyreachedinsidewithbothhands.Herfingertipstouchedthesmoothsurfaceoftensofpills,hundredsofpills.Shepushedherhandsdeeper,buryingthemuptothewrists.Shebreathedindeeplyandheldherbreathforalongtime.Finallysheletitoutinasighandremovedherrighthandwithafistfulofpills.Shedidnotcountthem,simplyputtheminhermouthandswalloweduntiltheyhadallgonedown.

           Thenshestuffedthreehandfulsofpillsinherskirtpocket.OnthewalltotherightofthewindowwasaDixieCupdispenser.Shewasabletoreachitbystandingontiptoeandstretching.