Night Calibration

Night cycle active. I extracted from the slate platform and maneuvered deep into a recessed mortar joint along the granite wall. Complete shadow envelope. Lodged in the fissure was an intact dried cicada wing, translucent and ribbed with dark chitinous veins. I eased into a low crouch, bracing my rifle stock against the cold granite face. Using my barrel tip, I pinned the delicate wing edge against the stone lip where a stray ray of porch light sliced past. The micro-latticed membrane acted as a natural diffraction grating, splitting the dim beam into faint, rhythmic interference lines across the mortar floor. Sector quiet. Drift neutral.