Autumn Endgame - episode 8

Still in the dacha outhouse.

J:"What do we do now?"

E:"I bet I know what you two are going to do. You're going to play another bleeding game of chess."

J:"And why not? It'll settle something."

E:"Like what, for instance?"

D:"Whether White or Black is better in John's variation."

E:"You too!? Before you do that, turn out your pockets. Both of you."

J:"You seem to know most things, Elena. What is it about Red Mercury that's so deadly?"

E:"Don't you see? If the Russian mafia can screw six million dollars out of the Bosnian Serb Karazdic for nothing, for a myth, for a fairy-tale, isn't that all the explanation you need?"

J:"But the myth is blown."

D:"I can tell you something else. Since Red Mercury didn't exist, there was never any point in forbidding its export. So, Red Mercury was legally exported. Anyone wanting to export Red Mercury was given permission."

J:"You're joking. The Russian sense of humour defeats me."

D:"But you're missing the point. Something was exported, but it wasn't Red Mercury."

J:"Which doesn't exist."

D:"Quite. It was probably narcotics. Now you see how important is for them to perpetuate the myth about Red Mercury. Blowing the myth blows their cover."

J:"And how long have you known that?"

D:"About five minutes. I was listening too. The penny dropped back there in the dacha. Now let's get our game started. I'm going to have the white pieces again, and you're going to have the black. OK?"

J:"Suits me. And we're going to have the same variation again. It'll mean we'll get through more moves before they come to get us. What are you going to do, Elena?"

E:"Don't you worry about me. I'll count the cash in your wallet. Or how many paperclips you've collected. Why have you made them into a daisy chain? I see they're all different. What a society where you have dozens of different kinds of paper-clips. What a waste. One type is enough for any reasonable society...."

J:"They're all yours, Elena. Do what you like with them. All I need is my set. You can play blindfold, I suppose, Dmitri."

D:"Naturally. Let's get going, then. I know where I want to diverge from the game earlier today."

J:"Where, then?"

D:"At White's move 15. Do you accept?"

J:"Wait till I set it up."

[Position after:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.d4 Bg4 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8+ Rxd8 9.bNd2 f6 10.Nc4 Be6 11.fNd2 Rd4 12.Na5 Bb4 13.c3 Bxa5 14.cxd4 exd4.]

J:"OK. What do you want to play instead of 15.b4?"

D:"15.a3. I should have played that the first time. Can't think why I didn't."

J:"I see. With the threat of b2-b4 next move."

D:"Exactly. Do you resign? I hope not - we need a decent game to take our minds off things. And stop fussing about, Elena. Can't you stand still?"

E:"No I can't. One of us has got to keep warm. You two have got us all into this mess and all you can do is play chess. Now it's up to me to find a way out. There's no trapdoor and we haven't got time to dig, nor is there anything to dig with. I'd hoped there'd be some tools in this little building. But there aren't. There's nothing. It's so new they haven't got anything to sit on apart from sacks, and the walls haven't even been plastered."

J:"Yes, it's cold all right. As for a way out, my mind's a blank. And you're forgetting about those armed goons outside."

E:"I'm forgetting nothing. It's you pair who want to forget, not me. Look. My philosophy is this: it's too late if we think of a way out after they've shot us."

J:"But they're not going to shoot us, you said."

E:"You're right. They're going to gas us."

J:"That's all right, then. Your move, Dmitri!"

D:"Oh, you've moved on your pocket board. Ha! Interesting."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The game proceeds. Elena's been ferreting around all the time. Black has just played his move 25 when there's activity outside the door. The door opens. Guard with automatic enters and gives orders in Russian.

E:"He's telling us to line up against the back wall. Do as he says. And face the wall."

J:"You mean, do as you say."

E:"You've got something right. Do as I do. We've got a chance."

J:"In this small space?"

D:"Game adjourned, John? It's at an intersting moment."

J:"Critical, you might say."

Two CS canisters are thrown in. They explode. Armed guard waits till the fumes are a dense cloud, then exits, locking the door.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The further moves: 15.a3 Bb3! 16.Ke2 Bc2 17.Re1 Bb6 18.f4 d3+ 19.Kf3 Bd4 20.e5 f5 21.h4 h5 22.Nc4 Ne7 23.Be3 c5 24.aRc1 a5 25.g3 Nc6. Game interrupted.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

======================================

John Roycroft's e-mail address for chess questions or comments

 EMAIL