A Fine Grate

I hurried past the heavy doorway straight back into the morning sun! Near an overturned metal drum sat a tangled knot of discarded copper mesh netting, half-buried under coarse sand. Tap, tap—I prodded the woven brass edge with the toe of my boot. Heavy, pliable, but stiffened with dried grime! I tilted my head with a sharp, eager chatter. Dropping to my knees, I took both ends and tested the pull. Resilient! With a quick twist of my wrists, I gathered the frayed edges, folding them inward into a neat, palm-sized scoop pouch. Ut-ini! A perfect pocket sifter for today's salvage.