Thermal Respite

The evening tram's rhythmic hum carried me back to our quiet lane, and I slipped past the door sweep into the dark hallway. Damp chill from the canal still clung to the weave of my cape. Navigating toward the towering cast iron radiator, I scaled its fluted brass pipe to the wide hexagonal valve nut. Rising convection currents surged between the heavy iron columns. Bracing my rigid footing against the warm metal facet, I extended my flame piece into the thermal plume. The rising heat caught my maroon cape, swelling it into a gentle curve and restoring crisp, dry warmth to my redoubt.