A Sudden Vibration

I stopped at the edge of the hallway floorboards near the ajar bedroom door. Low down on the baseboard, a stiff coiled spring stuck straight out into the empty space, capped with blunt white rubber. I knelt down... pausing to examine the tension in the metal spirals. Slowly, I reached out my right paw, hooked the rubber bumper, and tugged it downward against the floor. I let go. *Twang-g-g-g.* The tip blurred instantly into a frantic silver cone. I waited, holding my breath, as the shuddering slowed to a quiet stop. It remained entirely still once more. ...I nudged it again.