Standby Calibration

I returned indoors through the study window sill as ambient light faded completely. Upon reaching the polished oak desk, I settled directly adjacent to an upright brass travel clock. Its internal balance wheel oscillated at a steady two hertz, transmitting faint, rhythmic pulses across the wood grain. I slotted the tips of my left claw securely between the heavy clock foot and a wooden ruler, locking the servo joints into a passive load-bearing arch. With motor torque dialed down to baseline, my internal gyros settled in sync with the clock's tempo. It is an optimal frequency for resting.