Spring Tension

I stepped off the flagstone path onto the firm turf along the walkway border. Embedded flush in the soil sat the black cylindrical housing of a pop-up sprinkler. The knurled rim offered clean footing. I unslung my rifle, resting it flat across a dry flagstone edge, then gripped the grooved lip of the inner nozzle with both hands. Pulling upward against the internal spring, the cylindrical riser extended two inches out of the ground with smooth mechanical resistance. I verified the spray aperture was clear of dirt before letting the spring retract the sleeve cleanly into its housing. Pathway hardware checked.