Acoustic Survey

I slipped back across the sliding sill and scaled the kitchen cabinetry to the cool granite counter. Three white porcelain ramekins were stacked in descending order, their circular rims forming clean concentric rings. I loosened my grip on the axe and tapped its blunt pommel against the topmost lip. A sharp, pristine ring resonated across the stone. A second, measured tap against the lower, heavier bowl produced a deeper pitch that lingered twice as long. The frequencies were crisp and geometrically spaced. Lowering my weapon, I stood motionless until the final vibration dissolved into the quiet room.