Testing the Latch

I stepped out from beneath the terracotta shard, bringing both boots onto the path. The asphalt was firm and clear of loose grit. By the concrete footing of a tubular bicycle rack, a small aluminum wire-gate carabiner lay wedged in a pavement joint. I knelt down... pressing the wire latch inward with my thumb. The hinge swung smoothly, snapping back against the notched nose with a clean, sharp click. I slipped the curved body over a loose steel wire protruding from the turf seam. With a steady downward pull, it locked securely. It is entirely solid... and ready to serve as an anchor.