Night Grid on the Shelf

A black domino tile lay flat across the corner of the lower pine shelf, its white pips catching the warm lamp glow. I approached with measured strides, pausing two paces back to survey the layout. The four crisp dots on its upper half mirrored the quadrant marks on my camp card. Leaning forward with steady posture, I brought the card's flat corner against the tile, nudging it an inch forward until its edge aligned squarely with the shelf bevel. With the outpost marked and the grid secure, I settled back against the row of books to begin the evening watch.