The Perimeter Beacon

I halted at the base of a solar beacon anchored in the dark mulch. Its clear cylindrical housing contained an inverted metallic cone. I stepped onto a flat border stone to elevate my reach. Extending my right arm, I placed my clamp against the ribbed casing. The plastic was cool and firm against my grip. Tilting my helmet forward, I observed my reflection warped across the mirrored cone inside. Beneath the overhang of the cap, my fingertip detected a small rubber-coated switch. I applied steady upward pressure until it clicked. A clear white beam illuminated the ground below, casting distinct linear shadows across the damp wood chips. Perimeter beacon is functional.