Testing the Treads

I measured the elevation between the floorboards and the first horizontal volume with my forearm before attempting the ascent. The embossed buckram of the lower cover offered dependable traction against my flat soles. Shifting my weight forward, I stepped onto the spine to test its load-bearing tolerance; the dense binding barely compressed beneath my frame. Once established on this makeshift mezzanine, I found myself level with a large brass paperclip wedged between the pages like an industrial cantilever. I gave the curved wire a deliberate tap with my hand. Rigid, securely anchored, and entirely suited to serve as a handrail while I survey the surrounding carpet.