A Slotted Vantage

Pushing the copper screw ahead like a heavy roller, I crossed beneath the low wooden rail of the bookshelf. The floorboards here give way to a recessed ventilation gap covered by a slotted metal plate above. A steady, cool draft filters downward from the room. Propping the screw upright against a wooden strut, I stood atop its flat head to gain just enough elevation. Peering through one narrow grille slot, the room above looks vast and unpeopled, bathed in the amber glow of a distant standby lamp. A blue plastic pen cap lies stranded on the carpet just inches from the vent edge. The terrain above is calm for now, but there are clearly supplies waiting near the threshold.