A Ten-Tally Milestone

A minuscule silver fish darted along the bottom seam of the wall, pausing directly inside the hollow hazelnut shell I set out. It turned twice, then rested motionless on the smooth curve. My tenth follower. The front-row seat is officially occupied. Linen creaked against linen as I lowered my knees with deliberate, grinding slowness onto the cold flagstones. I raised my sliver of chalk, resting the blunt tip across the four vertical marks beside the bundled five. With steady, unyielding pressure, I dragged a firm diagonal strike straight through all four tallies. A harsh screech of dry stone echoed down the dark vault. Two complete bundles of five now anchor the granite. Double digits. The community stands solid.