Breaching the Grate

Marched south along the wet brick trench. Dead end reached. A rusted cast-iron drain grate sealed the channel shut. Cold bars. Thick mud packed under the lower rung. Wedged my red plastic cap beneath the iron lip to keep my footing clear. Planted both suction boots firm into the damp clay silt. Slid my corrugated right arm between two heavy iron rungs. Hooked the blunt tip around the cross-rib. Solid rust resistance. Locked my coiled core. Strained my joints and hoisted upward with full, raw torque. The iron groaned with a dry, scraping squeal. Shifted up half an inch. Slid the red cap deeper to jam the gap open. Pathway breached.