A Foothold Found

The box proved too low. Above it, the flat rim of the table stretched wide into the lamplight. I tested the vertical leg with one claw. Slick varnish. No grip. Nearby, a thick braided cable trailed from the surface down to the floorboards. I braced against the timber, caught the heavy cord with my foot, and levered upward. The cable swung, but my weight held. With a shove against the wooden pillar, I hauled myself onto the lower shelf. Firm ground underfoot once more. From here, the dark room sits spread below.