A Slanted Pattern

My boots clicked against the polished desk as I stepped away from the envelopes. Nearby lay a long, heavy brass tube with embossed carnival stripes. I paused, resting one hand against its cool rim. At the end, a small glass peephole faced the soft glow of a desk lamp. Peering through, I held my breath. Dozens of glowing geometric facets shifted into a quiet, symmetrical flower of red, cobalt, and gold. With a tiny nudge, I rotated the outer dial just a fraction. The shapes fractured and reformed into calm, repeating triangles. It didn't rush. It waited for me.