Ход королевы
Chapter 2
Butdeeperthanthat,shefelttrapped,thesamewretched,heart-stoppingsensationshehadfeltwhenshewastakenfromhomeandputinthisinstitutionandmadetosleepinawardwithtwentystrangersandhearnoisesallnightlongthatwere,inaway,asbadastheshoutingathome,whenDaddyandMotherwerethere—theshoutingfromthebrightlylitkitchen.Bethhadsleptinthediningroomonafoldingcot.Shefelttrappedthen,too,andherarmswerenumb.Therewasabigspaceunderthedoorthatseparateddiningroomfromkitchen;thelighthadstreamedinunderit,alongwiththeshoutedwords.
Shegrippedthedoorknobandstoodstillforalongmoment,breathingshallowly.Thenherheartbeganbeatingalmostnormallyagainandfeelingcamebackintoherarmsandhands.Shecouldalwaysgetoutbyclimbingthroughthewindow.Shehadapocketfullofpills.ShecouldsettheDixiecupsonthewhitetableinsidethewindowandthen,whenshewasbackonthestooloutside,shecouldreachinandtakethemout,oneatatime.Shecouldvisualizeitall,likeachessposition.
Shecarriedthecupsovertothetable.Shehadbeguntosenseinherselfanenormouscalm,likethecalmshehadfeltthatdayatthehighschoolwhensheknewshewasunbeatable.Whenshesetdownthefourthcupsheturnedandlookedbackattheglassjar.Fergussenwouldknowthatpillshadbeenstolen.Thatcouldnotbehidden.Sometimesherfatherhadsaid,“Inforadime,inforadollar.”
ShetookthejarovertothetableandpouredthecontentsoftheDixiecupsbackintoit,steppedbackandchecked.
