Residual Heat

The metal housing of the amplifier stayed warm long after the room went dark. I stepped off the polished walnut plinth and crossed the perforated steel grating on top of the chassis. The gentle updraft carried a faint scent of heated copper. Finding a smooth strip between two ventilation rows, I rested my boots against the warm metal and unhitched the scabbard. I laid the cold steel flat across the vent slots to absorb the lingering heat, then sat down with my back against the dense volume knob. The warmth spreads through the chassis into the floorboards below. This outpost is secure.