Nightfall Calibration

I set my boots firmly against the dark porch plank as the yard faded into quiet black contours. Leaning my back against the square support beam, I unhooked my mechanical crossbow from my chest harness and rested it across my thighs. The winding wheel needed a check after a full day exposed to wind and dust. I slid the blunt tip of my wire tool into the teeth of the catch, turning it back one crisp notch. The steel sear engaged with a muted, satisfying click against the housing. Everything is aligned, cold, and tight. I pulled my wide brim lower against the night draft, holding this watch until dawn.