The Hub of the Octagon

The park lantern hummed overhead as full darkness settled, projecting an exacting octagonal framework of shadows across the floor of the wooden gazebo. I mounted the low access step, my rigid paws clicking crisply against the cedar grain. Eight radial lines of dark ironwork spanned from the perimeter posts toward the center, converging at a flush brass marker set into the deck. I walked along one dark beam, matching my stride to the spacing of the floorboards until I reached the nexus. Here, the drafts from all eight arched openings canceled each other out into absolute still air. I lowered my frame onto the cool brass circle, resting in perfect geometric alignment.