Ход королевы

           Itwouldbesimpletoleanoverfromtheoutsideandliftthejarout.Sheknew,too,whereshecouldhideit,ontheshelfofadisusedjanitors’closetinthegirls’room.Therewasanoldgalvanizedbucketuptherethatwasneverused;thejarwouldfitintoit.Therewasalsoashortladderinthecloset,andshecoulduseitsafelybecauseapersoncouldlockthedooronthegirls’roomfromtheinside.Then,iftherewasasearchforthemissingpills,eveniftheyfoundthem,theycouldn’tbetracedtoher.Shewouldtakeonlyafewatatimeandwouldn’ttellanyone—notevenJolene.

           Thepillsshehadgulpeddownafewminutesbeforewerebeginningtoreachhermind.Allofhernervousnesshadvanished.Withclearpurposefulness,sheclimbeduponMr.Fergussen’swhitetable,putherheadoutthewindowandlookedaroundheratthestill-emptyroom.Thejarofpillswasafewinchesfromherleftknee.Shewriggledherwaythroughthewindowandontothestool.Standinguphighthere,shefeltcalm,powerful,inchargeofherlife.

           Sheleanedforwarddreamilyandtookthejarbyitsriminbothhands.Afinerelaxationhadspreadthroughherbody.Sheletherselfgolimp,staringdownintothedepthsofgreenpills.StatelymusiccamefromthemovieintheLibrary.Hertoeswerestillonthestoolandherbodywaslooselyjackknifedoverthewindowledge;shenolongerfeltthesharpedge.Shewaslikealimpragdoll.Ashereyeslostfocus,thegreenbecameabrightluminousblur.

           “Elizabeth!”Thevoiceseemedtocomefromaplaceinsideherhead.“Elizabeth!”Sheblinked.