I took everything apart with the ice pick in the kitchen and pantry, then loaded my pockets with screws and washers from hinges of cabinets, an old coffee maker, the remaining nails in what used to be the table that I hadn't already taken, anything that had iron in it, whether it was alloy or wrought. Everything was pretty much still operational as long as the new coffee maker didn't break any time soon. And doors on cabinets weren't all that important anyway.

Each piece I ...