Read "Despair's Last Journey" by David Christie Murray online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Armstrong and Paul were keeping house alone, and were playing chess together. The big eight-day clock ticked, the cat purred noisily on Armstrong's shoulder, the clear burning fire made slight crisp sounds in the grate, and now and then slack fell from the bars. The two sat in silence, poring over the board. Paul made a move.
'That's vile play,' said Armstrong. 'Mate in four.'