Rifle Mat on Bunker Stairwell Before Dawn

Warm firelight spills down the concrete steps of a Porto-Novo bunker stairwell, illuminating dust motes suspended in the still air before dawn. A green rifle cleaning mat lies flat on the third step, its textured surface scattered with oil rags and metal brushes. The mat rests near a steel rack holding disassembled rifle parts, separated from the blurred outlines of the armory and motor-pool in the background. Late autumn shadows stretch long across the gray stone, showing the separation of the barracks and training routines beyond the frame. One brass casing rests on the mat's corner, catching the orange glow against the cool gray concrete.