Ход королевы
Chapter 3
Afterawhilesheheardthemanspeakingtoher.“Areyouthatseriousaboutchess?”
“Yes,”shesaid.
Hesmiled.“Ithoughtthatbookwasonlyforgrandmasters.”
Bethhesitated.“What’sagrandmaster?”
“Ageniusplayer,”themansaid.“LikeCapablanca,exceptthatwasalongtimeago.Thereareothersnowadays,butIdon’tknowtheirnames.”
Shehadneverseenanyonequitelikethismanbefore.Hewasveryrelaxed,andhetalkedtoherasthoughshewereanotheradult.Fergussenwastheclosestthingtohim,butFergussenwassometimesveryofficial.“Howmuchisthebook?”Bethasked.
“Prettymuch.Fiveninety-five.”
Shehadbeenafraiditwouldbesomethinglikethat.Aftertoday’stwobusfaresshewouldhavetencentsleft.Sheheldthebookouttohimandsaid,“Thankyou.Ican’taffordit.”
“Sorry,”hesaid.“Justputitonthecounter.”
Shesetitdown.“Doyouhaveotherbooksaboutchess?”
“Sure.UnderGamesandSports.Gotakealook.”
AtthebackofthestorewasawholeshelfofthemwithtitleslikePaulMorphyandtheGoldenAgeofChess;WinningChessTraps;HowtoImproveYourChess;ImprovedChessStrategy.ShetookdownonecalledAttackandCounterattackinChessandbeganreadingthegames,picturingtheminhermindwithoutreadingthediagrams.Shestoodthereforalongtimewhileafewcustomerswentinandoutofthestore.Noonebotheredher.Shereadthroughgameaftergameandwassurprisedinsomeofthembydazzlingmoves—queensacrificesandsmotheredmales.
