Ход королевы

           Shepulledthesweaterdownlooselyoverthemagazineanddroppedthenewspaperintothecornertrashcan.

           WalkinghomewiththefoldedmagazinetuckedsecurelyagainstherflatbellyshethoughtagainaboutthatrookmoveMorphyhadn’tmade.ThemagazinesaidMorphywas“perhapsthemostbrilliantplayerinthehistoryofthegame.”Therookcouldcometobishopseven,andBlackhadbetternottakeitwithhisknightbecause…Shestopped,halfwaydowntheblock.Adogwasbarkingsomewhere,andacrossthestreetfromheronawell-mowedlawntwosmallboyswereloudlyplayingtag.Afterthesecondpawnmovedtokingknightfive,thentheremainingrookcouldslideover,andiftheblackplayertookthepawn,thebishopcoulduncover,andifhedidn’t…

           Sheclosedhereyes.Ifhedidn’tcaptureit,Morphycouldforceamateintwo,startingwiththebishopsacrificingitselfwithacheck.Ifhedidtakeit,thewhitepawnmovedagain,andthenthebishopwenttheotherwayandtherewasnothingBlackcoulddo.Thereitwas.Oneofthelittleboysacrossthestreetbegancrying.TherewasnothingBlackcoulddo.Thegamewouldbeoverintwenty-ninemovesatleast.Thewayitwasinthebook,ithadtakenPaulMorphythirty-sixmovestowin.Hehadn’tseenthemovewiththerook.Butshehad.

           Overheadthesunshoneinablankbluesky.Thedogcontinuedbarking.Thechildwailed.Bethwalkedslowlyhomeandreplayedthegame.Hermindwasaslucidasaperfect,stunningdiamond.

           ***

           “Allstonshouldhavereturnedweeksago,”Mrs.Wheatleywassaying.