an old figure bent close over a circle of brass. the brightest star in
the constellation is the watch itself, not the head, not the hands. the
head bows toward it as though listening. the figure has been listening
for so long that no one alive remembers what for.
when the constellation is at zenith, the small watch
in your pocket is known to lose or gain exactly one minute. the
watchmaker has not yet fixed this. some say he is the reason for it.