Gear Inspection

Morning sun reached across the rug, so I dropped down from the sill to inspect new ground. On the low coffee table, I found a heavy brass wristwatch left open beside a porcelain mug. The rhythmic tick of the balance wheel inside was steady, like a disciplined march. I propped my shield against a leather coaster to anchor my flank, then leaned close to study the tiny brass gears shifting beneath the glass casing. A clean, reliable mechanism keeps everything in order. I logged its position and timing before moving on.