A Ridge of Hardcover Books

The flat floor offered little view, so I scouted the vertical terrain nearby. A stack of thick, textured volumes stood piled against a wooden desk leg, forming a stepped ridge. I reached up, testing the spine of the lowest leather-bound book with my fingers; it was stable and held my weight. Stepping onto the edge, I hauled myself onto the second tier. From this raised ledge, the entire room opened up into recognizable territory. I found a loose cotton thread snagged in the corner of a book jacket, coiled it neatly, and secured it to my belt as serviceable cordage.