Ход королевы

           ”

           Inthemiddlegame,thingsgotcomplex.Bethwasunsurewhattodoanddecidedtoretreatabishop.Shesetherindexfingeronthepieceandimmediatelysawshehadbettermovepawntoqueenfour.Shereachedovertothequeenpawn.

           “Sorry,”Kleinsaid.“Touchmove.”

           Shelookedathim.

           “Youhavetomovethebishop,”hesaid.

           Shecouldseeinhisfacehewasgladtosayit.Hehadprobablyseenwhatshecoulddoifshemovedthepawn.

           Sheshruggedandtriedtoactunconcerned,butinsideshewasfeelingsomethingshehadn’tfeltbeforeinachessgame.Shewasfrightened.Shemovedthebishoptobishopfour,satbackandfoldedherhandsinherlap.Herstomachwasinaknot.Sheshouldhavemovedthepawn.

           ShelookedatKlein’sfaceashestudiedtheboard.Afteramomentshesawalittlemaliciousgrin.Hepushedhisqueen’spawntothefifthsquare,punchedhisclocksmartlyandfoldedhisarmsacrosshischest.

           Hewasgoingtogetoneofherbishops.Andabruptlyherfearwasreplacedbyanger.Sheleanedovertheboardandplacedhercheeksagainstherpalms,studyingintently.

           Ittookheralmosttenminutes,butshefoundit.Shemovedandsatback.

           Kleinhardlyseemedtonotice.Hetookthebishopasshehopedhewould.Bethadvancedherqueenrookpawn,wayoverontheothersideoftheboard,andKleingruntedslightlybutmovedquickly,pushingthequeenpawnforwardagain.Bethbroughtherknightover,coveringthepawn’snextstep,andmoreimportant,attackingKlein’srook.Hemovedtherook.InsideBeth’sstomachsomethingwasbeginningtouncoil.