9

The storm had passed in the night. In the morning the Midway Inn felt smaller, the corners sharper in the thin winter light.

The innkeeper called everyone to the door. Outside, on the smooth snow, a clear line of footprints led from the threshold to the edge of the trees and back again. No other marks disturbed the surface.

“I bolted the doors myself,” he said. “No one should have gone out.”

Guests gave their answers. One man claimed he slept through the world. Another said he had not left his bed once. Sir Basil spread his hands and remarked that if he had gone walking he would still be chipping ice from his moustache.

Near where his boots had stood to dry, the floorboards were still slightly damp.

People began to talk of the road and the day’s journey. Wesley drifted back toward the corner table. The little numbered board from the night before had been cleared away. In its place stood an ordinary board with wooden pieces.

The innkeeper, noticing his glance, said, “A fresh puzzle for the road, if you care for it,” and turned back to his work.

This is a retractor. In the current position, White has just completed a legal move. Take back White's last move, then find the moves where White forces checkmate in 2 moves (White moves first, then Black, and then White delivers mate). After the retraction, play out the full sequence until White delivers mate.

Note: If you for some reason do not see the correct position (same as the picture below) in the interface where you input the moves, or don't find yourself in the "Retraction phase" where you can retract moves, hard-refresh the page and try again.