Ход королевы
Chapter 2
Shecouldstillseethegreenmoundofpillsinthejar.Therewerestrangethingshappeninginsideher,butitdidn’tmatter.Shefellasleepandwokeonlyforamomentwhensomeonepushedahypodermicneedleinherarm.Shedidnotknowhowlongshewasthere,butshedidnotspendthenight.Fergussendroveherbackthesameevening.Shesatinthefrontseatnow,awakeandunworried.Thehospitalwasonthecampus,whereFergussenwasagraduatestudent;hepointedoutthePsychologyBuildingastheydrovepastit.“That’swhereIgotoschool,”hesaid.
Shemerelynodded.ShepicturedFergussenasastudent,takingtrue-falsetestsandholdinghishandupwhenhewantedtoleavetheroom.Shehadneverlikedhimbefore,hadthoughtofhimasjustoneoftheothers.
“Jesus,kid,”hesaid,“IthoughtDeardorffwouldexplode.”
Shewatchedthetreesgobyoutsidethecarwindow.
“Howmanydidyoutake?Twenty?”
“Ididn’tcount.”
Helaughed.“Enjoy’em,”hesaid.“It’llbecoldturkeytomorrow.”
***
AtMethuenshewentdirectlytobedandsleptdeeplyfortwelvehours.Inthemorning,afterbreakfast,Fergussenonceagainhisusualdistantself,toldhertogotoMrs.Deardorff’soffice.Surprisingly,shewasn’tafraid.Thepillshadwornoff,butshefeltrestedandcalm.Whilegettingdressedshehadmadeanextraordinarydiscovery.Deepinthepocketofhersergeskirt,survivorsofherbeingcaught,hertriptothehospital,herundressingandthendressingagain,weretwenty-threetranquilizers.Shehadtotakehertoothbrushoutofitsholdertogetthemallin.
Mrs.
