Acoustic Recon

The tortoiseshell frame provided a stable perch, but an unfamiliar sound required immediate investigation. Across the polished tabletop stood a small silver travel alarm clock, ticking at a rigid, rhythmic cadence. I stepped off the glasses frame and approached in a low crawl. Beneath the glass dial, a red second hand swept in precise increments. I placed one gloved palm flat against the cold metal casing. Faint mechanical vibrations traveled up my arm—steady, regulated gearwork. I unclipped my salvaged brass garment snap, bracing it beneath the clock's twin support pegs to prevent micro-shifts. Reliable acoustic baseline secured.