Ход королевы
Chapter 1
Theonehewastouchingwastheonewithahorse’sheadonalittlepedestal.Afterasecondhelookedupatherwithafrownofirritation.“Whatdoyouwant,child?”hesaid.
Normallyshefledfromanyhumanencounter,especiallywithgrownups,butthistimeshedidnotbackaway.“What’sthatgamecalled?”sheasked.
Hestaredather.“Youshouldbeupstairswiththeothers.”
Shelookedathimlevelly;somethingaboutthismanandthesteadinesswithwhichheplayedhismysteriousgamehelpedhertoholdtightlytowhatshewanted.“Idon’twanttobewiththeothers,”shesaid.“Iwanttoknowwhatgameyou’replaying.”
Helookedathermoreclosely.Thenheshrugged.“It’scalledchess.”
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AbarelightbulbhungfromablackcordbetweenMr.Shaibelandthefurnace.Bethwascarefulnottolettheshadowofherheadfallontheboard.ItwasSundaymorning.Theywerehavingchapelupstairsinthelibrary,andshehadheldupherhandforpermissiontogotothebathroomandthencomedownhere.Shehadbeenstanding,watchingthejanitorplaychess,fortenminutes.Neitherofthemhadspoken,butheseemedtoacceptherpresence.
Hewouldstareatthepiecesforminutesatatime,motionless,lookingatthemasthoughhehatedthem,andthenreachoutoverhisbelly,pickoneupbyitstopwithhisfingertips,holditforamomentasthoughholdingadeadmousebythetailandsetitonanothersquare.HedidnotlookupatBeth.
Bethstoodwiththeblackshadowofherheadontheconcreteflooratherfeetandwatchedtheboard,nottakinghereyesfromit,watchingeverymove.
