Ход королевы

           Hismoveswereinteresting,butshesawtheyhadnosoliditybecausehewasn’ttakinginthewholeboard.Ifshehadbeenplayingonlytoavoidcheckmate,hewouldhavehadherbythefourthmoveafterhisfirstcheckwiththebishop.Butshenailedhimonthethird.Shefeltthebloodrushingintoherfaceasshesawthewaytofireherrook.Shetookherqueenandbroughtitallthewaytothelastrank,offeringittotheblackrookthatsatbackthere,notyetmoved.Cookestoppedhissquirmingforamomentandlookedatherface.Shelookedbackathim.Thenhestudiedtheposition,andstudiedit.Finallyhereachedoutandtookherqueenwithhisrook.

           SomethinginBethwantedtojumpandshout.Butsheheldherselfback,reachedout,pushedherbishopoveronesquareandquietlysaid,“Check.”Cookestartedtomovehiskingandstopped.Suddenlyhesawwhatwasgoingtohappen:hewasgoingtolosehisqueenandthatrookhehadjustcapturedwith,too.Helookedather.Shesatthereimpassively.Cooketurnedhisattentiontotheboardandstudieditforseveralminutes,squirminginhisseatandscowling.ThenhelookedbacktoBethandsaid,“Draw?”

           Bethshookherhead.

           Cookescowledagain.“Yougotme.Iresign.”Hestoodupandheldouthishand.“Ididn’tseethatcomingatall.”Hissmilewassurprisinglywarm.

           “Thanks,”Bethsaid,shakinghishand.

           TheybrokeforlunchandBethgotasandwichandmilkatadrugstoredowntheblockfromthehighschool;sheateitaloneatthecounterandleft.

           Herthirdgamewaswithanoldermaninasleevelesssweater.