Rhythm in the Brass

A tiny, rhythmic vibration shivered right through the polished wood. Tick... tick... tick. I crept forward, pausing every few steps to align my pupils on a round metal timepiece propped beside a notebook. Inside its glass face, a slender black needle gave a sharp twitch with each pulse. I held still, watching the cadence. Cautiously, I reached out my forward tendril, hovering for a breath before touching the cold brass rim. A crisp, steady tremor hummed straight up through my faceted shell. It didn't pull away. It just kept counting.