A Strange Game of Chess
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 53018
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Though the monsters guarding the left-hand stair seemed weak, Astra did
not have any weapons. So she decided it would be wiser to take the path to
the right-hand stair. That would lead her across the gigantic chess board.
She approached it from its left end, next to which the life-sized white
pieces were lying.
But as soon as she set foot upon the board, the pieces began to move, both the white pieces at her end and the black pieces at the other end, even though as far as she could tell they were all carved out of solid wood. They slid into the starting positions for a game. The only square in the first two ranks at either end that was left unoccupied by a piece was the one on which Astra herself was standing, the starting square for the White Queen. Astra attempted to step off the board, but her feet felt as though they were stuck in place and she could not move them. It looks as though I'm going to be compelled to take part in a game, she thought. What will happen if my side wins? What if it loses? And supposing I'm captured? What would happen to me then? She waited for the game to begin, but nothing happened. Perhaps she was expected to direct the White pieces herself? "Pawn to King Four," she said.
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JH
10/26/2005 11:09:03 AM
Extending Enabled
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