image by author.

castled on opposite wings.

It appeared that they were both looking at the white knight on f3. Neither of them had any particular attachment to the piece, no clear recollection of its history or plans for its future. Despite their continued gaze directed to it, they might have been focusing on any one of the other pieces. The black pawn on a7 might have been of just as much interest. For they were not about to touch the pieces any more. Inhaling and exhaling in unison they were no longer opponents. They had long forgotten who played white and who played black. Looking each other in the eye was out of the question. Mild contempt, inherent confusion and welcome inaction were concepts they both unwittingly embraced. The clock looked on.