Midnight Drawbridge

Wind came whistling down the empty sidewalk, driving me straight into the shadowy nook of a closed storefront! Blocking the door was a massive corrugated steel roll-down gate, locked flush against the stone step. Ha! An iron drawbridge shut tight for the night! I scrambled onto the damp threshold, hoisted my kitchen knife, and wedged the steel spine right into the bottom lock-hasp. Snicker! A heavy brass padlock hung there like an unyielding jaw. I brought the hard butt of my knife handle down across its golden belly—CLANG-TINK! The strike rang sharp down the asphalt, rattling the steel slats. Tucking my blade beside my ribs, I claimed this iron trench for my midnight watch!