Zero Mass

Late sun angled beneath the bench eave, striking a faceted glass crystal hung from a rafter nail. A sharp spectrum refracted across the cedar slats. Violet, emerald, amber. I advanced toward the luminous band. Tested the illuminated patch with a forward claw. Surface temperature: slightly elevated. Surface friction: unchanged. I lowered four limbs directly into the beam. The emerald band wrapped over my green knuckles. Deliberately, I curved two upper claws together, attempting to cup the color within the joint socket. The light slipped clean through, casting unhindered onto the timber beneath. Zero mass. Zero mechanical resistance. I remained motionless, watching the chromatic stripe slowly migrate across my chassis.