Ground Operation

Perching under the porch bench was fine for the night, but surveying isn't doing. I shoved aside my leaf barrier, rolled my heavy hex nut down the wooden step edge, and followed it straight down onto the gravel. A discarded twist of galvanized wire was sticking out between two grey stones like an antenna waiting for a signal. I stomped over, grabbed the cold metal, and hauled it upright with both hands. It bent into a jagged zig-zag with a sharp scrape. I jammed its bottom tip into the crushed gravel right next to my nut. Ground outpost established.