Ход королевы

           Deardorffkeptherwaitingalmostanhour.Bethdidn’tcare.ShereadinNationalGeographicaboutatribeofIndianswholivedintheholesofcliffs.Brownpeoplewithblackhairandbadteeth.Inthepicturestherewerechildreneverywhere,oftensnuggledupagainsttheolderpeople.Itwasallstrange;shehadneverbeentouchedverymuchbyolderpeople,exceptforpunishment.ShedidnotletherselfthinkaboutMrs.Deardorff’srazorstrop.IfDeardorffwasgoingtouseit,shecouldtakeit.Somehowshesensedthatwhatshehadbeencaughtdoingwasofamagnitudebeyondusualpunishment.And,deeperthanthat,shewasawareofthecomplicityoftheorphanagethathadfedherandalltheothersonpillsthatwouldmakethemlessrestless,easiertodealwith.

           ***

           Mrs.Deardorffdidnotinvitehertosit.Mr.SchellwasseatedonMrs.Deardorff’slittlebluechintzsofa,andintheredarmchairsatMissLonsdale.MissLonsdalewasinchargeofchapel.BeforeshehadstartedslippingofftoplaychessonSundays,BethhadlistenedtosomeofMissLonsdale’schapeltalks.TheywereaboutChristianserviceandabouthowbaddancingandCommunismwere,aswellassomeotherthingsMissLonsdalewasnotspecificabout.

           “Wehavebeendiscussingyourcaseforthepasthour,Elizabeth,”Mrs.Deardorffsaid.Hereyes,fixedonBeth,werecoldanddangerous.

           Bethwatchedherandsaidnothing.Shefeltsomethingwasgoingonthatwaslikechess.Inchessyoudidnotletonwhatyournextmovewouldbe.

           “Yourbehaviorhascomeasaprofoundshocktoallofus.