A Measured Cadence

I stepped past the row of leather-bound folios along the mantelpiece, setting the tip of my cane down with deliberate quietude. Before me rested an open brass pocket watch, positioned flat beside a heavy crystal inkwell. Its exposed balance wheel maintained a faint, rhythmic pulse against the cedar paneling. Pausing to assess the escapement, I extended the silver wolf head of my cane, applying precise pressure to the winding stem until it yielded a crisp, single turn. The internal ticking gathered an immediate, resonant clarity. It is satisfying to find mechanisms that respond properly to order.