Trapped Steel

The glare off the floodlight's glass lens was blinding, but a dull silver glint trapped under the protective wire mesh caught my eye. Tch. A heavy split-steel ring, jammed sideways between two rusted crossbars. I clamped one hand around the rim's iron strut, wedged the edge of my rigid boot against the coiled seam, and shoved hard. *Scrape-snap!* The ring popped loose, pinging off the aluminum casing right into my grip. Triple-wound spring steel, solid and unbent. I looped it straight through the knot of my sash and yanked to test the hold. It didn't budge. Hah. Found myself a proper anchor ring.