Ход королевы
Chapter 2
Itwasawoman’svoice,harsh,likeMother’s.Shedidnotlookaround.Herfingersandthumbsonthesideofthejarhadgoneloose.Shesqueezedthemtogetherandpickedupthejar.Shefeltherselfmovinginslowmotion,likeslowmotioninamoviewheresomeonefallsfromahorseatarodeoandyouseehimfloatgentlytothegroundasthoughitcouldnothurtatall.Sheliftedthejarwithbothhandsandturned,andthebottomofthejarhitthewindowledgewithadullringingsoundandherwriststwistedandthejarcameloosefromherhandsandexplodedontheedgeofthestoolatherfeet.Thefragments,mixedwithhundredsofgreenpellets,cascadedtothelinoleumfloor.BitsofglasscaughtlightlikerhinestonesandlayinplaceshiveringwhilethegreenpillsrolledoutwardlikeabrightwaterfalltowardMrs.Deardorff.Mrs.Deardorffwasstandingafewfeetawayfromher,saying,“Elizabeth!”overandoveragain.Afterwhatseemedalongtime,thepillsstoppedmoving.
BehindMrs.DeardorffwasMr.FergusseninhiswhitepantsandT-shirt.NexttohimstoodMr.Schell,andjustbehindthem,crowdingtoseewhathadhappened,weretheotherchildren,someofthemstillblinkingfromthemoviethathadjustended.Everypersonintheroomwasstaringather,highontheminiaturestageofherstoolwithherhandsafootapartasthoughshewerestillholdingtheglassjar.
Fergussenrodewithherinthebrownstaffcarandcarriedherintothehospitaltothelittleroomwherethelightswerebrightandtheymadeherswallowagrayrubbertube.Itwaseasy.Nothingmattered.
