IDLE, Book Four of the Seven Deadly Series by Fisher Amelie

Author:Fisher Amelie [Amelie, Fisher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Fisher Amelie
Published: 2018-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

Nf3 Bernard scooted to the end of his chair. Without hesitation, he moved.

Nf6 That was his favorite move. I could see it in his eyes, in the slight tilt of his mouth.

I took a solid breath, left the room around me, and glanced at the board. I saw my usual grid, my invisible lines, the pure potential. I ran hundreds of tactics instantly through my mind, but pushed them aside. Wait, I thought. I repaid in kind.

c4 He smiled at me and moved his pawn.

g6 I knew this opening. I flipped through my mental catalog and processed all potentials then moved.

Nc3 He expected this. His next move, I expected as well.

Bg7 Bishop, I thought.

d4 Bernard yawned, mumbled about the time of morning, and picked up a pawn.

O-O King’s Indian.

Bf4 Bernard’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he said nothing.

Abe and Gus leaned into one another and said something, though I couldn’t hear it.

Bernard countered.

d5 What are you doing, Bernard? Finally, I moved to the center.

Qb3 Bernard took a sip of coffee then moved.

dxc4 He was trying to throw off my pawn structure. I closed my eyes and imagined the board, shifting pieces in my mind and predicting tactic.

Qxc4 I further entrenched my pawn. Bernard moved.

c6 This was what I expected.

e4 I brought out another pawn. As did Bernard.

Nbd7 Bernard thought he owned the center. I could see it in his face. I took a deep breath.

Rd1 Bernard looked at me like I was an idiot.

Nb6 I countered.

Qc5 He leaned back in his chair a little and made his next move.

Bg4 My turn.

Bg5 “A pin is mightier than the sword,” Abe whispered, and the other men chuckled beneath their breath.

We ignored them and I waited for Bernard. He moved.

Na4 His center made vulnerable to me. I moved my knight.

Qa3 Bernard cleared his throat, the first sign he felt slightly uncomfortable. He moved his queen.

Nxc3

bxc3

Nxe4 Instinctively, I scooted farther to the edge of my chair, took a deep breath, and moved my knight.

Bxe7 He didn’t move, didn’t blink. I’d backed him into a slight corner and he was analyzing. Adrenaline raced through my veins. He aimed for his bishop.

Qb6 My fingertip edged my queen. I steadied my nerves and moved her.

Bc4 Some small part of myself recognized the incredible silence in the room, but I shut it out immediately. Bernard took his bishop on a trip once again.

Nxc3 I rested my forefinger on my knight, confirmed the move with myself, and took his pawn.

Bc5 He took his bishop and aimed for my queen.

Rfe8+ I shifted a rook.

Kf1 He moved his king.

Be6 A bishop for me.

Bxb6

Bxc4+ He responded in kind.

Kg1 King.

Ne2+ Knight.

Kf1 King.

Nxd4+ Knight.

Kg1 King.

Ne2+ Knight.

Kf1 King.

Nc3+Knight.

Kg1 King.

axb6

Qb4 Queen.

Ra4 Rook.

Qxb6

Nxd1

h3

Rxa2

Kh2

Nxf2

Re1

Rxe1

Qd8+

Bf8 Bishop.

Nxe1

Bd5 You could hear even the slightest movement. It was deathly quiet.

Nf3

Ne4

Qb8

b5

h4 He moved a pawn. He was grasping at straws. He looked up at me, the first time he’d made eye contact since we’d begun and his face was unreadable.

h5

Ne5

Kg7

Kg1

Bc5+ I placed a bishop. There was a single sharp intake of breath, but I didn’t know from whom it came from.

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