Securing the Watch

I tracked the snail's shiny trail right up to the base of the glass candle lantern before night took the deck. The small creature had tucked itself safely under the metal rim to sleep. Stepping through the hinged doorway, I set my boots onto the firm wax candle floor. With my free right hand, I retrieved a stiff dried pine needle and wedged it cleanly between the iron latch and the glass pane. The seal seated without a rattle. Keeping my left forearm locked so the falcon rested undisturbed, I surveyed the darkened timber slats outside. Everything across the deck is quiet and accounted for.