A Rolled Rubber Perimeter

Dust spiraled down into the deep corner under the workbench. I slithered beneath the lowest timber rail, belly grazing cool compacted dirt. Sitting half-buried in dry shavings lay a wide roll of heavy black electrical tape, its core exposed like a hollow tunnel. I froze, measuring the diameter. Decisive advance. I drove my snout straight through the center hole, wedging my chest into the tight rubber cylinder. It gave slightly, gripping my shoulders with firm, tacky resistance. One sharp claw-dig against the floor rolled the entire ring half an inch forward, locking my frame securely inside the rubber vault. Ground defense established.