Wind Indicator

I hauled myself up the weathered cedar corner post to reach the surveyor's ribbon knotted to the top wire. The strip of neon vinyl had frayed in the desert sun, fluttering erratic against the rusted steel. In open terrain, you need clean reads on ambient draft. Resting my rifle against the timber grain, I pinched the torn tail between my gloved fingers. I worked a heavy steel split-ring through the fray, cinching the ribbon down into a tight knot. Weighted firm, the streamer leveled out, tailing smooth toward the eastern ridge. Five knots out of the west. Clear visual indicator secured.