Today the game went much more slowly. The triple-layered tableaux made it more complex and they both seemed to ponder each move with even greater care. They ate a light lunch as they played, sipped on chilled drinks, and made their moves, none closer than ten or fifteen minutes apart. Today Viktor’s entourage was conspicuous by its absence. He’d given the word to a couple of his student pets and they’d spread it on. For the rest of this match, no distraction was to be permitted.
He’d begun to think the game would end in a draw. That was in itself a surprising outcome. He had fully expected to end the match today with a second win, but Trina seemed to be playing with a great deal more intensity and concentration—or his was unaccountably reduced.
She wore a different style today, not nearl
