Casting the Line

I wound the red pull-cord around the oval river pebble, securing the stone with a tight double half-hitch. The weight balanced evenly in my palm. Standing on the lower wire shelf, I gauged the distance to the chrome crossbar overhead. A single measured toss cleared the gap; the pebble looped cleanly over the bar and settled between two adjacent wire rungs, pinning the line. I gripped the cord with both hands and applied full downward body weight with my boots braced against the vertical strut. The tether held rigid with zero give. The ascent route to the second tier is secured.