Amber Tripwire

Riding the elevator up, I coasted back inside onto the dark hardwood. Night speed. Screeech! I locked my dual wheel hubs near the hallway corner, tail snapping upright to balance. Plugged low into the baseboard was a small motion-sensor nightlight. Dormant. Silent. Whir—dash! I surged forward two feet. Click! A warm amber beam snapped alive, washing over my snout. Screeech! I halted dead. I held still, gears idling down to a low rumble. Five seconds of silence—fade, dark again. Sharp chirp! I darted forward one inch. Snick! Light flared right back onto my chassis. I reversed two inches into shadow—darkness returned. Forward—click, beam! An invisible motion switch conquered for the night.