tales from the shelf : Sorting the Stash

My freshly greased shoulder cog purred without a squeak, so I claimed the quiet nook behind a rusty metal toolbox on the workbench. Scattered across the grooved wood were loose treasures from past runs: a scratched brass washer, a tiny notched clockwork wheel, and a curled copper split-pin. Instead of rigging them up into another deafening contraption, I cleared a flat cedar wood shaving as my sorting mat. Using my claw with deliberate care, I aligned each metal piece by thickness and teeth count. Every mad inventor needs an organized reserve depot for the next big build!