" All Kings Horse " is a short story written on or before 1951 by Kurt Vonnegut. This can be found in the collection of his short stories Welcome to the Monkey House . It's the title of the line in the grove of Humpty Dumpty.
Video All the King's Horses (short story)
Plot summary
This story occurred in the early years of the Cold War and centered on US Army Colonel Bryan Kelly, whose plane landed on the Asian mainland. With him are his two sons, his wife, pilot and co-pilot, and ten enlisted. Sixteen prisoners were held captive by communist guerrilla leader Pi Ying, who forced Kelly to play the game of chess using her family and her man as a white piece, and herself as king. Every American piece captured by Pi Ying will be executed soon; if Kelly wins, he and his surviving pieces will be released. A Russian military officer, Major Barzov, and girlfriend Pi Ying were present to watch the game.
Pi Ying took a sadistic pleasure in a useless exchange intended to overthrow Kelly, who began to doubt himself for every step he made. Eventually, he realizes that his only chance to win involves sacrificing one of the knights, played by his children. Pi Ying catches the piece; before he could order the execution of the boy, though, his friend stabbed him and himself to death. Barzov then takes over for Pi Ying, but is defeated by Kelly's trap. He spends the life of his caught son and offers to transport twelve survivors, saying that since the United States and the Soviet Union are not officially at war, he will let them go even if Kelly has lost. Not wanting Kelly to leave the idea that he is a better chess player, Barzov suggested a lifeless repeat match at stake. Kelly refused, but said he would play another time if Barzov insisted.
Maps All the King's Horses (short story)
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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