A Chess Lesson
- The next morning everyone asks Reynie what the plan is, and he has to admit that he doesn't have one. He just knows they need to disable the Whisperer, which is easier said than done.
- Kate volunteers herself for a one-girl mission to find a way to access the Whisperer's computers; the others think it's dangerous for her to go alone, but Kate insists.
- After she leaves, Reynie beats himself up for not having argued more with Kate or insisted on going with her. He's worried that the Whisperer is fogging his mind, that he's a bad friend, that he's a coward, that he'll betray his friends in the end, yada yada yada—you name it, Reynie's worried about it.
- It all comes down to a big case of self-doubt, and Reynie needs reassurance. He signals Mr. Benedict: "Whisperer too strong. Please advise. —RM" (30.35), and Mr. B messages back: "Remember the white knight"(30.41).
- Reynie immediately recalls the chess problem he and Mr. B discussed way back in Chapter 5. Mr. B asked him (way back when) why the white player might have moved his knight forward and then back again, and Reynie answered, "Perhaps because he doubted himself" (5.45).
- Reynie thinks it over and realizes he's gotten the encouragement he needs, and he climbs back into bed, ready to make a new move.