ss.iftomorrowcomes-第39部分

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　〃Who　will　hold　the　stakes？〃
　
　〃The　ship's　purser。〃
　
　Why　should　Melnikov　be　the　only　one　to　take　money　from　this　woman？　thought　Pietr　Negutesco。
　
　〃My　friend；　you　have　a　deal。　Where　and　when？〃
　
　〃Friday　night。　Ten　o'clock。　The　Queen's　Room。〃
　
　Pietr　Negulesco　smiled　wolfishly。　〃I　will　be　there。〃
　
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　〃You　mean　they　agreed？〃　Tracy　cried。
　
　〃That's　right。〃
　
　〃I'm　going　to　be　sick。〃
　
　〃I'll　get　you　a　cold　towel。〃
　
　Jeff　hurried　into　the　bathroom　of　Tracy's　suite；　ran　cold　water　on　a　towel；　and　brought　it　back　to　her。　She　was　lying　on　the　chaise　longue。　He　placed　the　towel　on　her　forehead。　〃How　does　that　feel？〃
　
　〃Terrible。　I　think　I　have　a　migraine。〃
　
　〃Have　you　ever　had　a　migraine　before？〃
　
　〃No。〃
　
　〃Then　you　don't　have　one　now。　Listen　to　me；　Tracy；　it's　perfectly　natural　to　be　nervous　before　something　like　this。〃
　
　She　leapt　up　and　flung　down　the　towel。　〃Something　like　this？　There's　never　been　anything　like　this！　I'm　playing　two　international　master　chess　players　with　one　chess　lesson　from　you　and…〃
　
　〃Two；〃　Jeff　corrected　her。　〃You　have　a　natural　talent　for　chess。〃
　
　〃My　God；　why　did　I　ever　let　you　talk　me　into　this？〃
　
　〃Because　we're　going　to　make　a　lot　of　money。〃
　
　〃I　don't　want　to　make　a　lot　of　money；〃　Tracy　wailed。　〃I　want　this　boat　to　sink。　Why　couldn't　this　be　the　Titanic？〃
　
　〃Now；　just　stay　calm；〃　Jeff　said　soothingly。　〃It's　going　to　be…〃
　
　〃It's　going　to　be　a　disaster！　Everyone　on　this　ship　is　going　to　be　watching。〃
　
　〃That's　exactly　the　point；　isn't　it？〃　Jeff　beamed。
　
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　Jeff　had　made　all　the　arrangements　with　the　ship's　purser。　He　had　given　the　purser　the　stakes　to　hold…　20；000　in　traveler's　checks…　and　asked　him　to　set　up　two　chess　tables　for　Friday　evening。　The　word　spread　rapidly　throughout　the　ship；　and　passengers　kept　approaching　Jeff　to　ask　if　the　matches　were　actually　going　to　take　place。
　
　〃Absolutely；〃　Jeff　assured　all　who　inquired。　〃It's　incredible。　Poor　Miss　Whitney　believes　she　can　win。　In　fact；　she's　betting　on　it。〃
　
　〃I　wonder；〃　a　passenger　asked；　〃If　I　might　place　a　small　bet？〃
　
　Certainly。　As　much　money　as　you　like。　Miss　Whitney　is　asking　only　ten…to…one　odds。〃
　
　A　million…to…one　odds　would　have　made　more　sense。　From　the　moment　the　first　bet　was　accepted；　the　floodgates　opened。　It　seemed　that　everyone　on　board；　including　the　engine…room　crew　and　the　ship's　officers；　wanted　to　place　bets　on　the　game。　The　amounts　varied　from　five　dollars　to　five　thousand　dollars　and　every　single　bet　was　on　the　Russian　and　the　Romanian。
　
　The　suspicious　purser　reported　to　the　captain。　〃I've　never　seen　anything　like　it；　sir。　It's　a　stampede。　Nearly　all　the　passengers　have　placed　wagers。　I　must　be　holding　two　hundred　thousand　dollars　in　bets。〃
　
　The　captain　studied　him　thoughtfully。　〃You　say　Miss　Whitney　is　going　to　play　Melnikov　and　Negulesco　at　the　same　time？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Captain。〃
　
　〃Have　you　verified　that　the　two　men　are　really　Pietr　Negulesco　and　Boris　Melnikov？〃
　
　〃Oh；　yes；　of　course；　sir。〃
　
　〃There's　no　chance　they　would　deliberately　throw　the　chess　game；　is　there？〃
　
　〃Not　with　their　egos。　I　think　they'd　rather　die　first。　And　if　they　lost　to　this　woman；　that's　probably　exactly　what　would　happen　to　them　when　they　got　home。〃
　
　The　captain　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　a　puzzled　frown　on　his　face。　〃Do　you　know　anything　about　Miss　Whitney　or　this　Mr。　Stevens？〃
　
　〃Not　a　thing；　sir。　As　far　as　I　can　determine；　they're　traveling　separately。〃
　
　The　captain　made　his　decision。　〃It　smells　like　some　kind　of　con　game；　and　ordinarily　I　would　put　a　stop　to　it。　However；　I　happen　to　be　a　bit　of　an　expert　myself；　and　if　there　was　one　thing　I'd　stake　my　life　on；　it's　the　fact　that　there　is　no　way　to　cheat　at　chess。　Let　the　match　go　on。〃　He　walked　over　to　his　desk　and　withdrew　a　black　leather　wallet。　〃Put　down　fifty　pounds　for　me。　On　the　masters。〃
　
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　By　9：00　Friday　evening　the　Queen's　Room　was　packed　with　passengers　from　first　class；　those　who　had　sneaked　in　from　second　and　third　class；　and　the　ship's　officers　and　members　of　the　crew　who　were　off　duty。　At　Jeff　Stevens's　request；　two　rooms　had　been　set　up　for　the　tournament。　One　table　was　in　the　center　of　the　Queen's　Room；　and　the　other　table　was　in　the　adjoining　salon。　Curtains　had　been　drawn　to　separate　the　two　rooms。
　
　〃So　that　the　players　aren't　distracted　by　each　other；〃　Jeff　explained。　〃And　we　would　like　the　spectators　to　remain　in　whichever　room　they　choose。〃
　
　Velvet　ropes　had　been　placed　around　the　two　tables　to　keep　the　crowds　back。　The　spectators　were　about　to　witness　something　they　were　sure　they　would　never　see　again。　They　knew　nothing　about　the　beautiful　young　American　woman；　except　that　it　would　be　impossible　for　her…　or　anyone　else…　to　play　the　great　Negulesco　and　Melnikov　simultaneously　and　obtain　a　draw　with　either　of　them。
　
　Jeff　introduced　Tracy　to　the　two　grand　masters　shortly　before　the　game　was　to　begin。　Tracy　looked　like　a　Grecian　painting　in　a　muted　green　chiffon　Galanos　gown　which　left　one　shoulder　bare。　Her　eyes　seemed　tremendous　in　her　pale　face。
　
　Pietr　Negulesco　looked　her　over　carefully。　〃Have　you　won　all　the　national　tournaments　you　have　played　in？〃　he　asked。
　
　〃Yes；〃　Tracy　replied　truthfully。
　
　He　shrugged。　〃I　have　never　heard　of　you。〃
　
　Boris　Melnikov　was　equally　rude。　〃You　Americans　do　not　know　what　to　do　with　your　money；〃　he　said。　〃I　wish　to　thank　you　in　advance。　My　winnings　will　make　my　family　very　happy。〃
　
　Tracy's　eyes　were　green　jade。　〃You　haven't　won；　yet；　Mr。　Melnikov。〃
　
　Melnikov's　laugh　boomed　out　through　the　room。　〃My　dear　lady；　I　don't　know　who　you　are；　but　I　know　who　I　am。　I　am　the　great　Boris　Melnikov。〃
　
　It　was　10：00。　Jeff　looked　around　and　saw　that　both　salons　had　filled　up　with　spectators。　〃It's　time　for　the　match　to　start。〃
　
　Tracy　sat　down　across　the　table　from　Melnikov　and　wondered　for　the　hundredth　time　how　she　had　gotten　herself　into　this。
　
　〃There's　nothing　to　it；〃　Jeff　had　assured　her。　〃Trust　me。〃
　
　And　like　a　fool　she　had　trusted　him。　I　must　have　been　out　of　my　mind；　Tracy　thought。　She　was　playing　the　two　greatest　chess　players　in　the　world；　and　she　knew　nothing　about　the　same；　except　what　Jeff　had　spent　four　hours　teaching　her。
　
　The　big　moment　had　arrived。　Tracy　felt　her　legs　trembling。　Melnikov　turned　to　the　expectant　crowd　and　grinned。　He　made　a　hissing　noise　at　a　steward。　〃Bring　me　a　brandy。　Napoleon。〃
　
　〃In　order　to　be　fair　to　everyone；〃　Jeff　had　said　to　Melnikov；　〃I　suggest　that　you　play　the　white　so　that　you　go　first；　and　in　the　game　with　Mr。　Negulesco；　Miss　Whitney　will　play　the　white　and　she　will　go　first。〃
　
　Both　grand　masters　agreed。
　
　While　the　audience　stood　hushed；　Boris　Melnikov　reached　across　the　board　and　played　the　queen's　gambit　decline　opening；　moving　his　queen　pawn　two　squares。　I'm　not　simply　going　to　beat　this　woman。　I'm　going　to　crush　her。
　
　He　glanced　up　at　Tracy。　She　studied　the　board；　nodded；　and　stood　up；　without　moving　a　piece。　A　steward　cleared　the　way　through　the　crowd　as　Tracy　walked　into　the　second　salon；　where　Pietr　Negulesco　was　seated　at　a　table　waiting　for　her。　There　were　at　least　a　hundred　people　crowding　the　room　as　Tracy　took　her　seat　opposite　Negulesco。
　〃Ah；　my　little　pigeon。　Have　you　defeated　Boris　yet？〃　Pietr　Negulesco　laughed　uproariously　at　his　joke。
　
　〃I'm　working　on　it；　Mr。　Negulesco；〃　Tracy　said　quietly。
　
　She　reached　forward　and　moved　her　white　queen's　pawn　two　squares。　Negulesco　looked　up　at　her　and　grinned。　He　had　arranged　for　a　massage　in　one　hour；　but　he　planned　to　finish　this　game　before　then。　He　reached　down　and　moved　his　black　queen's　pawn　two　squares。　Tracy　studied　the　board　a　moment；　then　rose。　The　steward　escorted　her　back　to　Boris　Melnikov。
　
　Tracy　sat　down　at　the　table　and　moved　her　black　queen's　pawn　two　squares。　In　the　background　she　saw　Jeffs　almost　imperceptible　nod　of　approval。
　
　Without　hesitation；　Boris　Melnikov　moved　his　white　queen's　bishop　pawn　two　squares。
　
　Two　minutes　later；　at　Negulesco's　table；　Tracy　moved　her　white　queen's　bishop　two　squares。
　
　Negulesco　played　his　king's　pawn　square。
　
　Tracy　rose　and　returned　to　the　room　where　Boris　Melnikov　was　waiting。　Tracy　played　her　king's　pawn　square。
　
　So！　She　is　not　a　plete　amateur；　Melnikov　thought　in　surprise。　Let　us　see　what　she　does　with　this。　He　played　his　queen's　knight　to　queen's　bishop　3。
　
　Tracy　watched　his　move；　nodded；　and　returned　to　Negulesco；　where　she　copied　Melnikov's　move。
　
　Negulesco　moved　the　queen's　bishop　pawn　two　squares；　and　Tracy　went　back　to　Melnikov　and　repeated　Negulesco's　move。
　
　With　growing　astonishment；　the　two　grand　masters　realized　they　were　up　against　a　brilliant　opponent。　No　matter　how　clever　their　moves；　this　amateur　managed　to　counteract　them。
　
　Because　they　were　separated；　Boris　Melnikov　and　Pietr　Negulesco　had　no　idea　that；　in　effect；　they　were　playing　against　each　other。　Every　move　that　Melnikov　made　with　Tracy；　Tracy　repeated　with　Negulesco。　And　when　Negulesco　countered　with　a　move；　Tracy　used　that　move　against　Melnikov。
　
　By　the　time　the　grand　masters　entered　the　middle　game；　they　were　no　longer　smug。　They　were　fighting　for　their　reputations。　They　paced　the　floor　while　they　contemplated　moves　and　puffed　furiously　on　cigarettes。　Tracy　appeared　to　be　the　only　calm　one。
　
　In　the　beginning；　in　order　to　end　the　game　quickly；　Melnikov　had　tried　a　knight's　sacrifice　to　allow　his　white　bishop　to　put　pressure　on　the　black　king's　side。　Tracy　had　carried　the　move　to　Negulesco。　Negulesco　had　examined　the　move　carefully；　then　refuted　the　sacrifice　by　covering　his　exposed　side；　and　when　Negulesco　had　sacked　a　bishop　to　advance　a　rook　to　white's　seventh　rank；　Melnikov　had　refuted　it　before　the　black　rook　could　damage　his　pawn　structure。
　
　There　was　no　stopping　Tracy。　The　game　had　been　going　on　for　four　hours；　and　not　one　person　in　either　audience　had　stirred。
　
　Every　grand　master　carries　in　his　head　hundreds　of　games　played　by　other　grand　masters。　It　was　as　this　particular　match　was　going　in