Ход королевы

           Hervisionseemedextremelysharp,asthoughshecouldreadthefinestprintfromacrosstheroom.Shemovedtheknight,attackingtherookagain.

           Kleinlookedather,annoyed.Hestudiedtheboardandmovedtherook,totheverysquareBethhadknown,twomovesago,thathewouldmoveto.Shebroughtherqueenouttobishopfive,rightaboveKlein’scastledking.

           Stilllookingannoyedandsureofhimself,Kleinbroughtaknightovertodefend.Bethpickedupherqueen,herfaceflushing,andtookthepawninfrontoftheking,sacrificingherqueen.

           Hestaredandtookthequeen.Therewasnothingelsehecoulddotogetoutofcheck.

           Bethbroughtherbishopoutforanothercheck.Kleininterposedthepawn,assheknewhewould.“That’smateintwo,”Bethsaidquietly.

           Kleinstaredather,hisfacefurious.“Whatdoyoumean?”hesaid.

           Beth’svoicewasstillquiet.“Therookcomesoverforthenextcheckandthentheknightmates.”

           Hescowled.“Myqueen—”

           “Yourqueen’llbepinned,”shesaid,“afterthekingmoves.”

           Helookedbacktotheboardandstaredattheposition.Thenhesaid,“Shit!”HedidnotturnoverhiskingoroffertoshakeBeth’shand.Hegotupfromthetableandwalkedaway,jamminghishandsintohispockets.

           BethtookherpencilandcircledHARMONonherscoresheet.

           Whensheleftatteno’clocktherewerethreenamesontheUNDEFEATEDlist.HARMONwasstillatthebottom.BELTIKwasstillatthetop.