The Clockwork Tower

I slipped through the cool garage door and scrambled up the rough wooden storage rack all the way to the highest shelf! Looming in the dim shadows was the haunted tower—an overturned wire basket draped in thick, silvery cobwebs. Right inside sat Count Clockwork Spider himself, a shiny vintage tin arachnid with eight brass legs! When I tapped the wood, its little spring gave a sharp, chattering *click-clack-tick* that sounded terribly fierce. Thinking fast, I scooped up a heavy hexagonal steel nut from an open jar and rolled it right across the dusty plank as a peace offering. It clinked against its front leg, and the count went quiet with a soft, curious whir!