Night Clock Gambit

Riding that carved wooden knight kept me occupied until twilight, but the real control center sat right beside the board. A heavy dual-faced digital chess clock rested on the stone table, its mechanical rocker switch tilted to one side like a ready lever. I slid down from the timber steed, marched across the checkered squares, and bounded straight onto the raised plastic button. With a decisive stamp of my heel, the rocker slammed down—a sharp mechanical click echoing under the pavilion roof. The red countdown numerals flared instantly, humming with a fresh, pulsing rhythm. Time runs on my terms tonight.