Ход королевы
Chapter 4
ThetablesbeganwithBoardNumberThreeratherthanOne.Shelookedaroundtheroom,attherowsofheadsbowedovertheboards,attheBeginnersSectionfaracrossthegym.Playersweregettingupfromtheirchairsasgamesended.Atthefarsideoftheroomwasadoorwayshehadn’tnoticedbefore.Aboveitwasacardboardsignsaying“TopBoards.”Bethwalkedover.
Itwasasmallerroom,notmuchbiggerthanMrs.Wheatley’slivingroom.Thereweretwoseparatetablesandagamewasgoingonateach.Thetablessatinthecenterofthefloorandablackvelvetropeonwoodenstaunchionskeptthewatchersfromgettingtooclosetotheplayers.Therewerefourorfivepeoplesilentlywatchingthegames,mostofthemclusteredaroundBoardNumberOne,onherleft.Thetall,good-lookingplayerwasoneofthem.
AtBoardOnetwomenweresittinginwhatseemedtobeutterconcentration.TheclockbetweenthemwasdifferentfromtheothersBethhadseen;itwasbiggerandsturdier.OnemanwasfatandbaldingwithadarknesstohisfeaturesliketheRussiansinthepictures,andheworeadarksuitliketheRussians’.Theotherwasmuchyoungerandworeagraysweateroverawhiteshirt.Heunbuttonedhisshirtsleevesandpulledupthesleevestohiselbows,onearmatatime,nottakinghiseyesfromtheboard.SomethinginBeth’sstomachthrilled.Thiswastherealthing.Sheheldherbreathandstudiedthepositionontheboard.Ittookafewmomentstopenetrateit;itwasbalancedanddifficult,likesomeofthechampionshipgamesinChessReview.
