Night Watch on the Beam

The workshop chimes rang out in deep unison, marking the late hour. Down below, the wooden floorboards lay completely still in the lamplight... no knights, and no signs of Kong yet. I leaned back into the folded green baize nest tucked against the cedar rafter. With both paws, I carefully gathered the slack of the waxed linen thread, checking that it still ran clear down to the brass bell below. My eyelids grew heavy to the steady ticking of the pendulums. I curled my tail securely around a rafter peg, laid my chin flat against the cedar beam, and settled in for the night, keeping watch above the quiet room.