Grid Survey

A fresh surface caught my focus. Across the low table lay an open notebook of pale blue gridded paper. I stepped onto the page, testing the flat expanse. The lines formed exact, repeating squares. Beside the spine rested a heavy metal ballpoint pen. I knelt, gripping its knurled barrel with both hands. With deliberate pressure, I rolled it across the ruled sheet until it aligned precisely parallel to a horizontal coordinate line. It remained motionless. A calibrated outpost established.