Reality Inspector, a novel involving computer-hacking and championship chess, chapter 6

Reality Inspector, chapter 6

The Rainbow Inn was crowded with chess fans. John looked around for a seat and saw Od, who waved him over to a table that he shared with Hank. Hank was another first name only person. And like Helen, he had no history. He just was--a member of the neighborhood. Hank and his box, which contained all his earthly possessions and now rested next to his feet. Hank sometimes spent the night at John's or at Od's or at another house in the neighborhood. But many nights Hank stayed--where? No one knew. John often thought that Hank was as interested in using the bathroom facilities as he was in a warm bed. Hank's weathered face beamed a child-like smile as John sat down at the table.

Excitement and tension were in the air as the TV M.C. gave the preliminary announcements. Mary had won the toss and would play white. Here was a break if she could take advantage of it. The champion, Sam Runner, was noted, however, for his ability to win with black. In fact, two years ago when he had defeated Jorge Santiago to retain the title, he had won more games playing black than as white. But Mary was a strong player at either side. This was the match of the century. Not since Fischer defeated Spassky had there been as much interest and excitement.

Mary opened with N-KB3 (Nf3). Come on into my parlor, the spider said to the fly.

John looked at the chess board which Hank had set up. All the chess buffs were following the game on their own board. This way they could analyze the game as it progressed.

Carry a box of kleenex when confronting the truth--a strange thought circulates through John's mind. And then Mary's last move, P-R5 (a5), has some strangeness attached to it.

Sam (next move)

Mary

John looks about at the crowd of chess fans--but he does not see anyone. In fact, he is not even in the Rainbow Inn. Instead, he is standing on a giant size horoscope. Is this an Alice trip? Have you ever found yourself standing on a pool table and been about the height of a pool ball? This is how John feels. There are other figures on the horoscope. Each one represents a planet. The closest one, to his left, is Neptune, standing there with his trident, immobile but smiling. John turns to his right and sees Jupiter. Colored lights are emanating from him in vast circles. There is a warm, attractive quality about those expanding circles of light. He moves toward the figure of Jupiter.

He notices that he is now in a field of wheat, gently moving in a breeze, ready to be harvested. The circles of light seem to be coming from a grassy hill with a few boulders protruding at one end. John pauses and scans the hill. It becomes the image of a woman stretched out on the ground. The boulders become her face and the grassy hillside her body.

John looks around. On his other side is a woods. The circle of light has vanished or become part of the yellowish glow. The sun seems to be hidden. Probably, the clouds overhead are creating this lighting effect, he thinks.