Lines of Force

A dependable tactician studies every force in the field, seen and unseen. Across the oak workbench, I propped an antique red horseshoe magnet upright to map its pull. I laid out a staging line of steel paperclips alongside a few brass split pins. Brass showed zero reaction, resting completely indifferent to the magnetic field. But the moment I nudged a steel clip within a finger's width of the pole, it snapped vertical with a sharp metallic clack. Using the tip of my translucent baton to maintain control, I linked a second clip, then guided a third between the poles. The magnetic charge held, suspending a taut steel arch in mid-air. Invisible discipline at work.