Ход королевы
Chapter 3
“I’mtryingtofindabookaboutchess,”Bethtoldher.
“Wedon’thandlebooksinthisdepartment,”thewomansaidandstartedtoturnawayagain.
“Isthereabookstorenearhere?”Bethaskedquickly.
“TryMorris’s.”Shewentovertoastackofboxesandbeganstraighteningthem.
“Whereisit?”
Thewomansaidnothing.
“Where’sMorris,ma’am?”Bethsaidloudly.
Thewomanturnedandlookedatherfuriously.“OnUpperStreet,”shesaid.
“Where’sUpperStreet?”
Thewomanlookedforamomentasifshewouldscream.Thenherfacerelaxedandshesaid,“TwoblocksupMain.”
Bethtooktheescalatorsdown.
***
Morris’swasonacorner,nexttoadrugstore.Bethpushedopenthedoorandfoundherselfinabigroomfullofmorebooksthanshehadeverseeninherlife.Therewasabaldmansittingonastoolbehindacounter,smokingacigaretteandreading.Bethwalkeduptohimandsaid,“DoyouhaveModemChessOpenings?”
Themanturnedfromhisbookandpeeredatheroverhisglasses.“That’sanoddone,”hesaidinapleasantvoice.
“Doyouhaveit?”
“Ithinkso.”Hegotupfromthestoolandwalkedtotherearofthestore.AminutelaterhecamebacktoBeth,carryingitinhishand.Itwasthesamefatbookwiththesameredcover.Shecaughtherbreathwhenshesawit.
“Hereyougo,”themansaid,handingittoher.ShetookitandopenedittothepartontheSicilianDefense.Itwasgoodtoseethenamesofthevariationsagain;theLevenfish,theDragon,theNajdorf.Theywerelikeincantationsinherhead,orthenamesofsaints.
