Chapter 3: How To Cheat At Chess

Steve and Linda were comfortable in one another's company and it showed. And there was no doubt at all whether Gage was their son or not. He looked like both his parents. Although he certainly wouldn't admit it in public, Gage knew they made a great family. He couldn't imagine another set of parents who even came close to equaling the ones he already had. When kids get love and respect, they return it in full measure.

While Dog looked out the window as they drove toward down town Las Vegas, he spied a sign, "JUNIOR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP. REGISTER HERE $25.00."

"Gage, look there." he directed.

"Hey, Mom. Dad. Look there, a chess tournament. You guys want to gamble a little. Can I enter the chess tournament?" He thought of his brand new skills. It would be fun to play against other kids and maybe ... Well, he could dream of beating someone, couldn't he?

His dad turned his head just a little for a moment and asked, "Gage, what is it with you? Ever since you found that dog, you have been acting real strange, and I mean real strange, even for a brand new teenager by six months. You find a dog in the desert and he can meow like a cat. You find gold and know where to sell it. You know what the market will bring and you bargain like an Armenian rug seller. You want a sword as part of the deal because you like it, you say. I bet it's valuable, isn't it?

"Uh yeah," Gage mumbled.

"Speak up, I couldn't hear you. It's worth a lot of money, isn't it?" His dad was getting a little testy.

"Yes Sir," Gage answered, "It's worth some bucks."

"About four thousand dollars on today's market if the sword maker's mark is not legible," Dog Prompted, "And much more if it is."

"About four thousand dollars on today's market if the sword maker's mark is not legible." Gage parroted what Dog put in his mind. "It's worth a lot more if you can see the maker's mark."

"Yah. The crook we sold the coins to has an old sword on his wall and he doesn't know the value of, yet you, a young kid just waltz in off the street and take one fast look and talk him out of it." Come on, Gage, what gives?"

"Aw shucks, Dad, all I'm asking is if it would be okay for me to enter a chess match. We can afford twenty-five bucks, can't we?" Gage was trying desperately to figure a way to divert attention away from what was happening.

"Gage, stop evading the issue and answer your Dad." His mom was very firm.

Gage took a deep breath. He let it out slowly. He paused and then said, "If you let me enter the chess tourney, everything will become real clear, I promise. You guys go gamble and just let me play a game of chess. I got to find out something."

Gage's mom slipped out of her chair next to his dad and came back to the breakfast nook where Gage was sitting. "You feel all right, Honey?" There was real concern in her voice as she felt his forehead for fever. Gage wondered to himself, Why do moms always want to know if you feel all right and check for a fever when they don't understand something? Of course there was no fever, just Gage feverishly thinking of a way to "explain" everything. Boy, he decided, I'm going to have to come up with a real good one this time.

"Okay, you get to play your chess game. I still think twenty-five bucks is a lot of money to spend just to play a game of chess." His Dad had relented. "Now, instead of gambling I think your mom and I want to see you play this game. There's something going on here and I want to find out just what it is.

"Okay, Dad." Man, his dad was like a bulldog. He got hold of anything; he didn't want to let go.

They found a parking lot where they could safely leave their motor home. They got their bikes off the bike rack over the rear bumper and pedaled to where the tournament was being held. Now there would be no problem with parking. All they had to do was chain their bikes to the nearest light post and be done with it.

They entered and looked around. The tournament was being held in a big, drafty meeting hall. These were elimination matches. Everybody could pay the entrance fee and compete within the proper age group. The winners from this and other, similar meets around the country would compete in another series of matches. In this contest first prize was five thousand dollars and second prize was two thousand.

They went up to the table where a woman accepted their money and handed out nametags. Gage's dad was reluctant to pay out the required twenty-five dollars. He wasn't cheap; he just didn't see any reason to waste money. Gage received his "Contestant" tag and his mom and dad were handed guest tags. Gage drew a number out of a basket.

"The lady who took his money said, "Table thirteen. You go there, your opponent is already waiting." Her eyes opened wide, "Ohmigod. You can't let that ugly beast in here."

"He's here for our son. Gage's dad said.

"He's a work dog. I get weak sometimes," Gage told her

"He doesn't bite, does he?" The woman was less disturbed at the mention of "work dog."

"Only elephants, ma'am," Gage answered her with a smile.

"Only elephants. How corny can you get?" Dog snorted and shook his head.

"I don't know how corny I can get, I never really tried to hit my corny limit yet," Gage answered with his own brand of sarcasm. He could be a smart Alec, too when he wanted.

"Well, go ahead," the lady said doubtfully, "Just be careful he doesn't bite anybody.

"Oh no ma'am. He is real well behaved. I trained him myself." Gage grinned smugly at Dog.

"Trained him myself. What a crock." Dog was more amused than offended.

"Gotcha." Gage grinned mentally at Dog.

"I'll get you for that." Dog promised.

Gage and Dog made their way to table thirteen. As Gage started to sit down, his opponent, already sitting, glared at him. "Get your smelly animal out of here."

"He's a working animal," Gage replied, "He's allowed."

"Not at my table, he isn't."

"Hey. This is your table?" Gage asked sounding very impressed.

"Yes, and don't you forget it. I run this table."

"Oh dear. If this is your table, I hope you didn't pay much for it," Gage told him. "You got gypped if you paid more than a buck for it. It's pretty cheap made."

Gage's opponent appeared to be a year or so older than he. He was a tall, skinny, watery eyed young man who looked to be anywhere from thirteen to fifteen. He wasn't any older because fifteen was the break off for the next older players. "You got a smart mouth on you. I have half a mind to smack some manners into you."

"Yup," Gage answered him, "Half a mind is just about right. You start anything with me and I'll kick your butt so high up in the air you're gonna have to get a stepladder to reach it. Now shut your stupid mouth and wait for the match to start. Then I'll show you who kicks butt."

"He's trying to get you mad enough to hit him, then you'll be disqualified. Then he wins by default." Dog warned Gage, although no warning was necessary. Sometimes in sports guys would try insulting members of the opposing team so someone would lose his temper and get kicked out of the game. Gage was well aware of such tactics.

Gage told his opponent, "Look, your mind games won't work with me. If you're not good enough to play me straight up, admit it. It's no shame if you let a thirteen-year-old like me beat you. I'm just better than you."

"Atta boy, Gage. You really got to him," Dog laughed mentally, enjoying his new friend's sharp wit.

Just then the buzzer sounded and the timers were started. One minute allowed for each move or else lose it. Gage drew white and moved first. He hit the timer. His opponent moved and hit the timer. Back and forth the game moved. Suddenly five moves from mate his opponent jumped up and yelled, "You cheated. No little kid can beat me."

"Well, this little kid just did, it's mate in five and you know it, or you ought to if you're not too stupid." His first opponent ran off fuming.

Their judge smiled and said, "Well done, young man. Did you say mate in five?"

"Yes sir, you see, he has to protect his queen's rook or lose it. Then I place his king in jeopardy and he counters with his queen and..." Gage demonstrated.

"Amazing. How long have you been playing?" The judge was truly "amazed."

"Oh, I learned to play last year and just got serious today. I practiced on the way here."

"Uh, yes," the judge, a friendly young man of college age said. "And you just figured out how to beat him at his own head game today." He was very skeptical and showed it.

"Well, I do play foot ball and soccer and anything else where I won't lose all my teeth like in ice hockey. A skinny rube like him wouldn't last ten seconds against the Anoka team. Their coach gives lessons in how to get a guy's goat. Foot ball is a game of strategy too, you know."

The judge grinned, "Well, let's see how you do against your next opponent." Gage looked up and saw a girl.

"Hey wait. It's no fair putting a girl against me." Gage started to stand up and leave.

"What's the matter, Short Stuff, afraid to get beat by a girl?" She was a nice looking girl, about fourteen, friendly and had a pleasant voice.

"No." Gage answered quickly, "It's just I don't want to hurt your feelings by beating you. My mom says I always have to be polite to girls. So I hate to beat you. You just aren't as smart as a guy because you're a girl." Gage was serious when he said it; she saw he truly meant what he said.

She laughed and sat down. "Look, shrimp, I have two brothers back in International Falls. I'm smarter than both of them put together." She smiled in an amused way at him.

Yeah, but Northern Minnesota guys aren't too bright," Gage answered. "Their brains get froze in the winter and never get a chance to thaw out."

She grinned and looked down at Dog sitting next to Gage. "What a beautiful dog. And he looks so intelligent too."

"We won't beat this young lady quite so badly. She has good taste." Dog was at his smug worst. Someone had praised him.