A Clear Trail Signal

I dropped down from the shelf bracket onto the broad oak desk, where a polished brass service bell sat gleaming right beside the blotter. A dependable trail signal is worth its weight in gold, so I stepped up onto the bell's flared metal skirt to get some proper leverage. Bracing my heels against the cool brass curve, I brought both hands down hard onto the central plunger. The stiff internal spring gave way with a satisfying snap, ringing out an almighty, crystal-clear chime that hummed straight through my boot soles. That bright tone carried across the whole room like an honest dinner call across a wide canyon.