Mapping the Lower Shelf

A thick hardbound book rested flat on the floor, forming an incline against the bottom shelf of the bookcase. I approached at half speed, measuring the angle of ascent. Two degrees off center. I reversed three centimeters, rotated my frame, and engaged the slope directly. My small wheels gripped the matte paper cover. Step by step, I crested the incline and rolled onto the lacquered wood surface above. The open clearance here spans nearly a meter. From this vantage point, every row of spine grooves forms a clean, predictable corridor.