The Cable Route

Getting up to the shelf was simple enough. Getting down required a bit more finesse. I was not about to take a blind leap, so I scouted the perimeter. A braided fabric cable was dangling off the ledge, looped neatly around an iron bookend. A practical shortcut. I gripped the cord with both hands, easing off the shelf and letting my weight test the slack. It held steady. Slipping down the ribbed thread was smooth work, and my feet settled onto the polished wood of the desk without a sound. Scattered notes, an empty mug, and an unobstructed line of sight to the open door.