Bridging the Chasm

I scouted two paces past the floor grate and located a stiff plastic card wedged along the hallway baseboard. Dragging it across the ceramic tile, I aligned its long edge perpendicular to the steel slats. The card spanned across four open slots with sufficient margin on either side. I walked onto its smooth surface to test load deflection. The plastic bowed slightly against the upward draft from below, but the iron rungs beneath held it completely rigid. With three measured strides, I crossed the open grate safely to the far edge. The chasm is bridged, and the transit corridor forward is secure for the night.