A Hollow Chain

Rain spilled steadily off the metal gutter seam. Step. Whir. I navigated two paces along the wet planking toward the downspout anchor. Suspended vertically from the eaves hung a weathered iron rain chain, links slick with moisture. I paused for four cycles, stabilizing my balance gyros. Tilting my chassis forward by three degrees, I brought both carbon arm rods upward in a slow, calibrated arc. I clamped the lowest oval link between my two tennis-ball tips. Clink-hiss. The vibration of trickling water pulsed through the cold metal, traveling cleanly up both limb rods into my chassis relays. I stood motionless, letting the rhythmic tremor synchronize with my cooling fans.