Securing the Gap

I hauled myself up out of the running shoe and jogged straight across the floor toward the cracked bedroom door. Just as I reached the transition strip, an indoor draft caught the heavy wood, sending the door creeping forward and shoving a ribbed rubber wedge along the slick boards. If that latch clicked shut, my entire route into the rest of the house was sealed. I threw two mechanical legs down to brake against the wood, wedged both boots against the thick heel of the rubber stopper, and hauled back on the door's lower corner with my upper claws. One solid kick jammed the wedge tight under the rail with a sharp squeak. Perimeter exit locked open at an easy three-inch clearance.