[ WP ] Death stared at his king , in full checkmate , and wished me luck . I had beaten death , and he could n't take me . He did n't tell me what would ...

`` Hmm... well... good game sir.'' 
 
 I looked between the board and death, my heart thumping out of my chest. 
 
 `` Is that it, do I... I, I get to live?'' 
 
 Death nodded, apparently shocked. `` Yes... I suppose you do.'' 
 
 I punched my fist in the air, and yelled at the top of my lungs, dancing around the strange, limbo space we floated in. 
 
 `` No need to be sore winner.'' Death said smoothly. `` How'd you manage it?'' 
 
 I almost could n't focus long enough to answer. 
 
 `` Fisher... it, it was Fischer and Spassky at Reykjavik, almost move for move. A little tweak here and there, and I won, just like Fischer.'' 
 
 Death shook his head, a wry smile curling around his pale, bald head. `` That's right. It *felt* familiar, but I did n't see what was happening till it was on me.'' He shook his head again. `` Just goes to show, you live and learn, always living and learning.'' He stood. `` Well, I do believe I'll be on my way. I do n't suppose we'll meet again.'' He extended his hand. `` Excellent game sir.'' 
 
 The limbo around us began to become transparent. I looked down. Underneath us lay my lifeless body, swarmed by a desperate group of EMT's. I looked up at death, suddenly curious. 
 
 `` What... what do you mean we wo n't meet again? Did n't I... I do n't know, just put it off?'' 
 
 Death shrugged. `` This was suppose to be it. Your time. But you won.'' 
 
 `` So... so wait.'' 
 
 Down below us they'd dragged out a defibrillator. Very distantly, I heard someone call `` Clear!'' 
 
 Pain racked my body. I gasped, and fell to my knees, grasping my chest. `` Wait...'' I sputtered. 
 
 Death smiled again. `` Goodbye, sir. Know that I'll be watching the remainder of your life very closely.'' 
 
 `` Clear!'' 
 
 Another wave of crippling pain that sent me prostrate. `` Wait...'' I breathed, death standing askew in my vision. 
 
 He shook his head a final time. `` Spassky... hmm... how about that...'' 
 
 `` Clear!''
