Bivouac Under Terracotta

I withdrew from the gravel pathway as twilight settled, moving deliberate paces toward the low cedar potting bench. Beneath the lower shelf rested an overturned terracotta saucer, propped slightly open against a split wooden gardener's peg. The narrow gap allowed clean clearance. I slid through the opening, boots pressing onto dry concrete free of garden runoff. Inside, the curve of the clay wall blocked the evening breeze completely. I laid my miniature rifle flat along the clean inner groove, checked the perimeter sightline through the peg gap, and settled down for the night.