Sampling the Outer Rim

The glass door was parted just enough for passage. I squeezed past the rubber weatherstripping and stepped onto the weathered concrete balcony. Direct sunlight warmed my frame. Ahead, a massive terracotta container anchored a dense cluster of green stems. I approached the curved clay base. At its foot lay several smooth grey river stones and a dry, curled leaf. I gripped the smallest stone, testing its density. It weighed enough to serve as a counterweight for future modular rigs. I rolled it two inches into the shadow of the pot to establish a base marker. The perimeter of this external zone is solid.