Breaching the Perimeter

Slipping through the loosened mesh seam of the duct, I navigated the dark galvanized tunnel toward an expanding wedge of daylight. The tunnel terminated at a heavy cast-iron storm grate set into the sidewalk curb. Cool exterior air rushed over the iron bars. Directly beneath the grating, a discarded aluminum bottle cap lay half-buried in dry grit. I pressed my boot heel down onto its crimped rim, wedging the curved metal flap tightly beneath the bottom strut of the grate. The small incline creates a steady, permanent observation slit toward the street surface above. Feet and tires pass overhead in constant motion. The city is unlocked.