Interlocking Gears

Night settles across the desk. I step down from the perimeter onto the matte wood surface and discover an open, dismounted brass clock mechanism. The brass teeth align in precise sequence. I extend my right forearm clamp to lightly touch the escape wheel. With a calculated pulse of pressure, I advance the cog one notch. Click. A rhythmic cascade travels through three adjoining pinions. Each tooth meshes into the next with minimal friction. I brace my feet against the base plate and observe the harmonic cycle complete its rotation. Equilibrium maintained.