Night Sentinel

The glass marble held the distant streetlamp's gleam within its sphere, but night had fully settled across the lane. I grounded the butt of my rifle into the gravel, scanning the masonry edge for a sheltered bivouac. Two paces ahead, a curved fragment of slate tile lay angled against the stone curb. Moving with steady deliberation, I cleared three dry twigs from beneath the arch using my rifle stock. I eased inside, resting my back against the cold curb stone while keeping the glowing glass sphere in direct sight through the narrow gap. The watch is set.