Night Watch Secured

An errant cast-iron damper hook on the hearth grate caught my line of sight as the night deepened. The counterweight had shifted slightly askew against the stone curb, threatening a metallic rattle with the evening draft. Stepping across the cool slate, I holstered my sidearm and assessed the leverage. Bracing my synthetic boots against the iron rim, I applied measured upward torque with both gloved hands. With a sharp, authoritative click, the pivot seated flush into its notched bracket. Silence returned to the fireside. The perimeter is properly calibrated for the night.