"Pawn to King six," he said, executing it.

"What?"

"Just that."

"Give me a minute. I want to study this."

"Take your time."

"I'll take the Pawn," Tlingel said, after a long pause and anothermug.

"Then I'll take this Knight."

Later, "Knight to K2," Tlingel said.

"Knight to B3."

An extremely long pause ensued before Tlingel moved the Knight toN3.

The hell with asking Grend, Martin suddenly decided. He'd beenthrough this part any number of times already. He moved his Knight toN5.

"Change the tune on that thing!" Tlingel snapped.

Martin rose and obliged.

"I don't like that one either. Find a better one or shut it off!"

After three more tries, Martin shut it off.

"And get me another beer!"

He refilled their mugs.

"All right."

Tlingel moved the Knight to K2.

Keeping the unicorn from castling had to be the most importantthing at the moment. So Martin moved his Queen to R5. Tlingel made atiny, strangling noise, and when Martin looked up smoke was curlingfrom the unicorn's nostrils.

"More beer?"

"If you please."

As he returned with it, he saw Tlingel move the Bishop to capturethe Knight. There seemed no choice for him at that moment, but hestudied the position for a long while anyway.

Finally, "Bishop takes Bishop," he said.

"Of course."

"How's the warm glow?"

Tlingel chuckled.

"You'll see."

The wind rose again, began to howl. The building creaked.

"Okay," Tlingel finally said, and moved the Queen to Q2.

Martin stared. What was he doing? So far, it had gone all right,but ... He listened again to the wind and realized he was taking.

"That's all folks," he said, leaning back in his chair."Continued next month."

Tlingel sighed.

"Don't run off. Fetch me another. Let me tell you of my