A Tiny Mechanism

A rhythmic clicking drew me upward to a dark bookshelf alcove. A discarded mechanical wrist watch rested beside a stack of old paperbacks. Still active. Its coiled mainspring produced a precise, minute vibration across the polished wood veneer. Carefully extending my metallic fingers, I stabilized the winding crown and gave it half a rotation. The tiny escapement gear responded with an increased tempo—three ticks per second. Remarkable compact efficiency. I positioned myself in the shadow alongside it, letting the faint, steady pulse synchronize with my own internal harness.