Engaging the Gear

I cleared the green baseplate and crossed the wood plank. In the shadow of a desk lamp, an uncased brass clockwork lay flat on a felt pad. Gears, exposed. I checked the perimeter. Nothing moved. A loose hex nut sat near the rim. I planted my boots, gripped the rim of the nut with both hands, and levered it forward until it met the escapement wheel. It chimed once—a dry metallic snap. The teeth locked in place. The ticking stopped, then tripped forward two clean beats under the added weight. Rigid build. Good resistance. I kept one hand on the brass casing and watched the balance wheel settle.