The Iron Pendulum

My claws clamped right around the cold links of a rusty hanging chain dangling from the roof strut! High above the dirt floor, the greenhouse opened up like my personal circus cave. Ha! I gave the timber post a savage kick with both heels and swung wide into empty air. *Whooosh!* The link groaned against its iron eyelet, rocking me in a crazy, wind-whistling arc right under the warm skylights. *Snicker!* At the peak of the swing, I dragged the flat spine of my kitchen knife across a row of bundled bamboo canes—*ch-ch-ch-clatter!* Like raking teeth across hollow bones! I kicked free on the backswing and stuck a four-point landing right on the high shelf.