Anchored Iron

I stepped off the slate slope onto the iron grating of a suspended fire escape. Cold metal rang out beneath my talons. A descent begins. At the corner of the platform, a heavy iron counterweight hung suspended by a thick linked chain, swaying faintly in the night draft. Unacceptable oscillation. I advanced in two measured strides, locking my tail against the grated floor. With deliberate force, I clamped both clawed hands around the cylindrical weight and drove my full mass downward. The chain snapped taut with a harsh metallic clang against the pulley bracket. The swinging ceased. Motion neutralized. I leaned back against the iron balustrade. The landing holds.