Ход королевы
Chapter 3
ThegirlinfrontofBethwasnamedMargaret;shehadglowingblondhairandworeacashmeresweaterofapale,expensivelavender.AsBethsatdown,theblondheadturnedslightlybacktowardher.“Brain!”Margarethissed.“Goddamnbrain!”
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Bethwasalwaysaloneinthehalls;ithardlyoccurredtoherthattherewasanyotherwaytobe.Mostgirlswalkedinpairsorinthrees,butshewalkedwithnoone.
Oneafternoonwhenshewascomingoutofthelibraryshewasstartledbythesoundofdistantlaughterandlookeddownthehalltosee,haloedbyafternoonsunlight,thebackofatallblackgirl.Twoshortergirlswerestandingnearher,bythewaterfountain,lookingupatherfaceasshelaughed.Noneoftheirfeatureswasdistinct,andthelightfrombehindthemmadeBethsquint.Thetallergirlturnedslightly,andBeth’sheartalmoststoppedatthefamiliartiltofherhead.Bethtookaquickdozenstepsdownthehallwaytowardthem.
Butitwasn’tJolene.Bethstoppedsuddenlyandturnedaway.Thethreegirlsleftthefountainandpushednoisilyoutthefrontdoorofthebuilding.Bethstoodstaringafterthemforalongtime.
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“CouldyougotoBradley’sandgetmesomecigs?”Mrs.Wheatleysaid.“IthinkIhaveacold.”
“Yes,ma’am,”Bethsaid.ItwasSaturdayafternoonandBethwasholdinganovelinherlap,butshewasn’treadingit.ShewasplayingoveragamebetweenP.Morphyandsomeonecalledsimply“grandmaster.”TherewassomethingpeculiaraboutMorphy’seighteenthmove,ofknighttobishopfive.
