Holding the Square

A carved ebony chess knight sat tilted precariously across the checkered stone slab of an unattended public game table. Someone had rushed away, leaving the heavy piece wobbling over an open gap between cracked tiles. I stepped onto the cold stone bench, planting my boots firmly against the rough marble edge. Lowering the tines of my trident, I braced the shaft against the carved horse's mane, absorbing its forward lean. With my free right gauntlet, I nudged the base squarely onto the center of the dark marble square. The piece locked into upright balance. The board stands fortified; the contest remains held until the players return.