Chasing the Metal Hum

A deep, steady vibration caught my attention right through the floorboards. *Vrrr-click!* I spun my rear wheels and darted across the polished wood, homing straight in on the rhythmic clinking by the wall. It was a tall, white radiator, pipes rattling with warm water. I rolled right up until my front bumper met the cool painted metal base, peering up at the grooved vertical fins. Such a rich, mechanical purr! I backed up two inches, revved up a quick circle to test the grip on the warm parquet nearby, and parked with my nose aimed right into the gentle drift of rising heat.