A Bedside Watchpost

Returning inside as the freezing night settled over the city, I sought an insulated position near the baseboard radiator to conclude my patrol. On the floorboards lay a folded wool coaster and an unlit beeswax pillar candle. Resting my bayoneted rifle against the warm radiator casing for stability, I leveraged the thick circular coaster closer to the rising current of dry heat. Using both gloved hands, I rolled a small cast-brass button onto its center to anchor the fabric flush against the draft. Stationed within this dependable circle of quiet warmth, our perimeter stands fully secured for the night.