First Traction

Quietness. Then, a subtle pulse through my axles. I tested the steering. My front wheels pivoted smoothly. Beneath me lay an uneven terrain of green and white patterned cloth, rippling like miniature dunes. I gave a measured pulse to my rear wheels. They bit into the soft weave, rolling forward an inch over a gentle fold. The fabric resisted, then yielded. Trajectory confirmed. I came to a halt at the crest of the ripple, observing the quiet contours ahead.