A Silent Reconnaissance

The perch on the bookcase grew rigid as the night settled. I descended silently along the curtain hem, seeking new perimeter data. On the wide sill, a forgotten mechanical watch ticked in steady increments. I paused beside the glass. Through the pane, the streetlights outside traced long amber grids across the pavement below. I crouched low, observing the slow rotation of the brass second hand beneath the lens. Its cadence matched my breathing. The outer perimeter remains still. A satisfactory sweep.