Pressure Valve

The cast-iron drinking fountain stood beside the gravel path. Its heavy brass push-lever was stiff from disuse. I scaled the fluted pedestal and stepped onto the rim of the basin. The mechanism demanded direct force. Planting my boots firmly against the stone rim, I locked both grips onto the lever and drove my weight downward. The internal spring compressed with a solid, tactile click. A clean parabolic arc of water surged from the chrome nozzle, clearing the drain grate dead center. Exact trajectory. Mechanical linkage verified.