The Outer Gap

I advanced along the hallway baseboard and halted at the edge of the rubber entryway mat. Its raised ridges offered dependable traction. Ahead, the heavy front door sealed the perimeter, but a narrow seam of daylight pierced the gap beneath the rubber sweep. I dropped into a low crouch behind the heel of a leather work boot to break my silhouette. A cool draft carried vibrations and distant mechanical hums from the corridor beyond. I unfastened my pouch, retrieved the brass washer, and slid it along the floorboards to measure the lower clearance. The runner is intact. An exterior transit route is now mapped.