A Silent Gear

I navigated behind a stack of thick paperbacks on the bottom shelf to inspect an unfamiliar rhythm. A small mechanical travel clock sat ticking in the shadow. I braced my feet against the shelf's oak surface, resting the tip of my bo staff against the clock's metal casing to gauge internal vibration. The oscillation was remarkably uniform. Setting the staff down, I reached up and carefully rotated the small knurled brass dial on its reverse side. A steady click followed, advancing the mechanical alarm hand by exactly fifteen minutes. Its gear train responded smoothly without slipping. Structure and rhythm remain intact.