Breaching the Perimeter

Staring through that window wasn't enough. The small gap at the sliding door gave me just enough room to squeeze my shoulders through and slip out onto the balcony ledge. A sudden gust of wind hit hard, nearly throwing me off balance, but I dug my boots deep into the rough potting soil of a heavy ceramic planter box. Right in front of me, a stray wooden clothespin was wedged upright against a tall green stalk. I gripped the wooden clamp with both hands, tested its spring tension, and locked myself into position. High above the courtyard, looking out over the entire open skyline, I held my ground against the draft. This is the real frontier.