Ход королевы
Chapter 1
Shaibelsaidnothing,didnotevenregisterthequestionwithamovementofhishead.Distantvoicesfromaboveweresinging“BringingintheSheaves.”
Shewaitedforseveralminutes.Hervoicealmostbrokewiththeeffortofherwords,butshepushedthemout,anyway:“Iwanttolearntoplaychess.”
Mr.Shaibelreachedoutafathandtooneofthelargerblackpieces,pickeditupdeftlybyitsheadandsetitdownonasquareattheothersideoftheboard.Hebroughtthehandbackandfoldedhisarmsacrosshischest.HestilldidnotlookatBeth.“Idon’tplaystrangers.”
Theflatvoicehadtheeffectofaslapintheface.Bethturnedandleft,walkingupstairswiththebadtasteinhermouth.
“I’mnotastranger,”shesaidtohimtwodayslater.“Ilivehere.”Behindherheadasmallmothcircledthebarebulb,anditspaleshadowcrossedtheboardatregularintervals.“Youcanteachme.Ialreadyknowsomeofit,fromwatching.”
“Girlsdon’tplaychess.”Mr.Shaibel’svoicewasflat.
Shesteeledherselfandtookastepcloser,pointingat,butnottouching,oneofthecylindricalpiecesthatshehadalreadylabeledacannoninherimagination.“Thisonemovesupanddownorbackandforth.Alltheway,ifthere’sspacetomovein.”
Mr.Shaibelwassilentforawhile.Thenhepointedattheonewithwhatlookedlikeaslashedlemonontop.“Andthisone?”
Herheartleapt.“Onthediagonals.”
***
Youcouldsaveuppillsbytakingonlyoneatnightandkeepingtheother.Bethputtheextrasinhertoothbrushholder,wherenobodywouldeverlook.
