Ход королевы
Chapter 4
Inherroomthatnightshecouldnotgettosleepbecauseofthewaythegameskeptplayingthemselvesoverandoverinherheadlongaftershehadstoppedenjoyingthem.
Afterseveralhoursofthisshegotoutofbedandinherbluepajamaswalkedovertothedormerwindows.Sheraisedashadeandlookedoutatthenewlybaretreesbythelightofthestreetlamp,andatthedarkhousesbeyondthetrees.Thestreetwassilentandempty.Therewasasliverofamoon,partlyobscuredbyclouds.Theairwaschilly.
BethhadlearnednottobelieveinGodduringhertimeinMethuen’schapel,andsheneverprayed.Butnowshesaid,underherbreath,PleaseGodletmeplayBeltikandcheckmatehim.
Inherdeskdrawer,inthetoothbrushholder,wereseventeengreenpills,andthereweremoreinalittleboxonherclosetshelf.Shehadthoughtearlierabouttakingtwoofthemtohelpherdozeoff.Butshedidnot.Shewentbacktobed,exhaustednowandhermindblank,andsleptsoundly.
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OnSaturdaymorningshehadhopedtobeplayingsomeonewitharatingover1800.Themanatregistrationhadsaidtherewerethreewhowerethathigh.ButonthepairingsshewasshownplayingBlackagainstsomeonenamedTowneswitharatingof1724.Thatwaslowerthanherlastgame,theeveningbefore.Shewenttothedeskandaskedaboutit.
“That’sthebreaks,Harmon,”themaninthewhiteshirtsaid.“Consideryourselflucky.”
“Iwanttoplaythebest,”Bethsaid.
“Youhavetogetaratingbeforethathappens,”theyoungmansaid.
