"I don't know," Anatoly was forced to admit. "But I don't know that he does either, and I do not want to ask, in case the question should offend him. And if I am completely honest, I do not know that a relationship would do either of us any good. I do not do so well in those as I do in chess. It might be better to simply stay friends. I will not hurt him, that way."

And Anatoly would not be hurt in return.