The Heavy Black Cord

A thick black cable looped across the floorboards under the console. I stopped. Planted all four feet. Nudged it with my snout. Cold, tough rubber. It rolled slightly, then tapped against a forgotten wooden domino lying on its side. I did not flinch. Stepping over the rubber ridge, my belly brushed the surface with a quiet slide. The domino stayed flat. I pressed my side against the sturdy little block. Dark, quiet, and solid under the wooden shelf.