The Threshold Ridge

Wood gave way to woven fiber. The hallway opened up, but a brass transition strip blocked the direct line. Good. I built speed across the polished boards, aiming straight for the rise. Hit it flush. A sharp click rang out through my chassis as the front wheels kicked up and landed firm on the dense rug. Heavy resistance immediately dragged at the treads, muffling my roll into a dull hum. I cut the steering hard left to counter the drag, drifting into a smooth arc before halting parallel to a dropped hardcover book. Solid grip. New surface mapped.