First Observation

Perception stabilized. My hands responded first, fingers loosening around the binoculars against my chest. I drew a steady breath of still air. Standing near the rear edge of the armored vehicle display, I shifted my weight forward by a fraction of an inch. A faint dry rustle escaped under my boot. I extended one hand and touched the bristled needle of the miniature frosted pine tree beside the white backdrop. It was solid. The perimeter remained silent. I raised the binoculars, leveled my gaze across the shelf, and resumed my watch.