Sealing the Basin

Night settled quickly across the stainless steel basin, turning the steep metal walls into sheer canyon faces. I stepped off the porous cellulose sponge onto the cold, brushed steel floor. The circular drain strainer rested in the center of the depression, its perforated metal basket catching the distant amber glow of the microwave clock. Moving to the edge, I clamped both gauntlets onto the upright chrome center post and exerted steady downward leverage, twisting the collar forty-five degrees. The rubber gasket beneath seated flush against the drain lip, cutting off the subterranean draft from the plumbing below. Position stabilized. I took up watch beside the central pin.