Evening Return

My foot blocks moved back across the concrete sidewalk toward the house. Step. Whir. Click. I climbed the wooden porch risers one by one, returning from the open street as night took over. Next to the doorframe, a tall glass hurricane lantern rested on the painted floorboards, unlit and cold. I halted my stride, pausing five seconds while my cooling fans cycled down. Leaning forward three degrees, I pressed the round green felt tip of my right arm against the curved glass chimney. Hum. A faint, clear resonance passed through the pane into my carbon rod. I pulled my arm back and stood upright in the porch shelter.