The Clock Maker - A Fairy Tale In a town there was a clock maker. Famous across the land, he was renowned as the greatest horologist of the age. His craftwork could be found in the halls ofpublic buildings, on the mantels of the wealthy, and in the pockets of the public servants and professional men of the town, chained to their lapels or a button of their waistcoat. But his greatest work, crafted at the behest of the town itself, sat for all to see at the top of the church tower in the centre of the town, controlling the great bells that tolled the hours in ringing tones across the great breadth of the town. And then one day his wife died. Her funeral was held in the churchyard, in the shadow of his greatest work. She was lowered into her grave at the peal of the noontime bells, and the echo of their dolorous rings could still be heard as the dirt was piled atop her untimely casket. The clock maker was inconsolable. For six weeks he stayed shut up in his home, admitting no one to the chamber of his grief. "You must come out," said those who knew him. "The time for mourning has passed." "You must live your life out as she would have wished," added others. "She would not want you to waste away in misery." But he remained sitting in the silence of his home, staring at the grandfather clock his father had crafted when he was young, watching the hands of his father's handiwork wind around its face with the inexorable precision of death'sembrace, and wondered how it was that we should measure our lives in minutes andyears as if we were little more than the gears and pendulums of his life's work. We are more than that, aren't we? He asked himself over and over. But what if we aren't? What if we aren't? The idea came to him abruptly, and his hands shook as he considered the possibilities of his sudden inspiration. He got to work immediately. His neighbours were relieved to hear the sounds emanating from his workshop in the basement once again. The clangs and gongs of metalwork resounded late into the nights. "At least he is working again," they said to each other. "He will befine soon enough. Give him a little more time." But weeks stretched into months, and the clock maker's nightly activities did not cease, while still no one saw or spoke with him. Groceries were delivered tohis home each week, and the deliveryman was interrogated by the curious and concerned, but even he had not seen the clock maker. Whenever he arrived with foodstuffs and other goods, the door swung open on its own accord, on unseen gears triggered by some unknown force, and the deliveryman would leave his bags in the front foyer, a banknote sitting on the dressing table by the door along with a list of supplies to bring the next week. His neighbours continued to worry. The clock maker himself was engrossed in his task with the obsession of an artist knowingly creating his masterpiece. The minutest of details were agonizedover, the greatest decisions made in a heartbeat. But she was perfect, and a year after losing his wife, she was almost done. The clockwork simulacrum of hisdead wife that stood before him was his justification, the validation of a life spent assembling simple pieces into a complex whole, and the salvation of his lonely and broken heart. She was almost done, and in the light of the numerous oil lamps that illuminatedhis basement, in those last moments before everything changed, he saw reflected in her still lifeless eyes his dream of a future together made possible through the brilliance and desperation of his craft. Full of trepidation and hope, he began his final labour to imbue within her the spirit of his lost wife. Four days later, disheveled and pallid, the clock maker left his house for the first time in over a year. He squinted in the sunlight while holding a hand up to his forehead, and was unsurprised to see that nothing appeared to have changed, since for him time seemed not to have passed at all since that fateful day when his wife had died; because she was returned now, and that terrible ÜÜ  interregnum of a year of dedicated misery was now past, a ÞÛÛÝ dream that would soon be forgotten amidst the daily joys ÛÛ  of a life with her. ÞÝ ÞÝ It was the child Joseph who first noticed the clock maker ÞÝ had finally emerged from his house of solitude.Û ÜÛÛÜ  With a yell and a jump he ran off to tell hisÛÜ ÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛß father, who within minutes came jogging up toÜÜÛÛÛÛÛßßßß  the clock maker's house, slowing as he neared  ÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛßßßÛ    until they stood ten feet apart, as if he were unsure   ÞÛÛÛßßÞÝ  if he should come any closer. But the clock maker smiled, ßßÞÝ and said "Hello Samuel," and soon they were hugging as ÞÝ Samuel welcomed the clock maker back into the world he Û had forsaken for so long. Word spread quickly around theÛ neighbourhood, and soon there was a large crowd of old Û friends waiting to receive the clock maker back into Û their lives. ÞÝ ÞÝ After numerous greetings and welcomes, the questions ofÞÝ how he was and what he had been doing, the clock maker ÞÝ said "My friends, I will tell you all that I have done Û and discovered this past year. But please wait a while ÜÜßÛÜÜ yet. I shall make an announcement this Sunday in the ÜÜÛ²²± ÛÛÛÛ²ÜÜ square. You will come to know everything then." ±²ÛÛ²±°  ÛÛÛ²±²ÛÛÛÜÜ °°²ÛÛ²° ° ÛÛ²°°°²²²±±²ÛÜÜ Following some further talk the clock maker  °±²ÛÛ °± Û²±°²°°°°°±±²ÛÛ begged leave to return home, "For the sun is ±²ÛÛ °±² ²Û²²±²°°°°°±±²Û bright, and my skin has become too pale to  ±²ÛÛ ±²°± ±²²ÛÛ²²±ÜÜÜ°±²² stay in the light for long."  ²ÛÛ ±²± ² °±²²ÛÛÛ²ÛÛÛÛ²²Û  ÛÛ ²Û²° ± Ü ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²° By the time Sunday arrived, a wooden stage  ÛÛ ±²Û² °± ÛÛÜßÛÜ°ßß²²ÛÛÛÛ° had been installed at one end of the town  Û °²ÛÛÛ °²± ÛÛÛÜßÛ±²ÜÜßßÛÛ° square, partitioned by a red curtain behind °²²ÛÛ °²²± ²Û²ÛÛÜß°±²ÛÛÜÜ° which the clock maker's wife waited  ±±²ÛÛÛ °²²± ²±±²ÛÛÛÜ°±²²ßßÜ° nervously, while her husband stood to one  ±²²ÛÛÛ °°²²± ²Û²²ÛÛÛÛß°ÜÜ ÜÜ° side as the last townspeople found a place°²ÛÛÛÛ °±°²²± ßÛ²ÛßßÜÜ ÜÜÛ²²±° to hear this prodigal son returned from ßßÛÛÛÛ °±°±²²± ±°ßÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²±° his self-imposed exile. ÜÜÜÜÜ°±²Û°²²²±± ²±°ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²±°  °±ÛÛ±²²Û°±²²²²± ÛÛ²±°ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²±°ß Finally, when everyone appeared ready,  ±²Û±ÛÛÛ°±²²²²²±± ÛÛÛ²±°ßÛÛÛÛßßÜÜÜ° the clock maker began to speak. He °²²Û²ÛÛß°±²²²²²ßßßßßßÛÛÛ²±°ßÜÜ ÜÜÛ²±° spoke of his loss, of the anguish and ß°²Û²ÛÛÛÛ²²ÛßßßßÜ° Ü ßßßßÛ²±°ßÛÛÛÛÛ²±° heartache, of the misery of sleepless ÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛßßßßÜÜ°Ûß ÞÞÛ °ÛÜ ßßßß±°ßÛÛÛÛ²±° nights alone, and those attending ܲ²²ÛÛßßßßÜÜ°Ûß ß  ÜÜÜ Û °ÛÜ ßßßÜÛÛÛ߲ܰ his words understood the pain of Û²ÛßßßßÜÜ°Ûß ß ÜÜßßÛÜßßßßÜÜ Û °ÛÜ ßßÜ Ü²±°ß that terminal separation, for ßßßÜÜ°Ûß ß ÜÜßßÜÜ° Û²ÛÛÜÜßßßßÜÜ Û °ÛÜ ßßßß±°ß over the years they had all Ü°Ûß ß ÜÜßßÜÜ° ÜÜÛÜ ° ÛÛÜÜßßßßÜÜ Û °ÛÜ ßßÜÜß lost someone dear. But no  ß ÜÜßßÜÜ° ÜÜßßÜ ÜÜßßÛÜ ° ÛÛÜÜßßßßÜÜ Û °ÛÜ ßß longer, said the clock  ÜÜßßÜÜ° ÜÜßßÜÜÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÜÜßßÛÜ ° ÛÛÜÜßßßßÜÜ Û °ÛÜ ßß  maker. No longer need ßßÜÜ° ÜÜßßÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛ² Û²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜßßÛÜ ° ÛÛÜÜßßßßÜÜ Û °ÛÜ ßß  the loss of a loved° ÜÜßßÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²± Û±²ÛÛÛßÛ²ÛÛÛÜÜßßÛÜ ° ÛÛÜÜßßßßÜÜ Û °ÛÜ ßß one be absolute. 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°°±±"I have dedicated my life to °²ßß ÜÜ° ßÛÛÛÛÛÛ²°°²ßßßßßßßÜÛÛÛÛÛ² ²°Û°ÛÛ²Û °ÛÛ°±°the observances of time," he   °Ü ۰ܲܰÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝÞ±°ÛÛ±Û²Û °° °±°said, "And to measuring it  ±Ý°²ÜßßÜÜÝÛÛÛ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ±°°Û ±ÛÛÛ²Û°Û°±±in the tension of a coiled    ²Ý ²²²²Û² ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ²±²°° ±²ÛÛ²Û°°±°±spring and the frictionless  ÛÝ ²²²²² ÛÛÛÛÛ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝÞ°±²°² ±°Û  Û°°²°²swing of a pendulum's arc.  Û°Û ²²²ÛÜßÛÛÛÛ²±ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝÞ°²Û±²²±°Û  Û°² °²Each minute was but the     Þ²° ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝÞ²²±°±²± ÛÛ Û°²²°²turning of a gear in a hollow Þ±   ܲ²ÛÛ²±±°°°°°°ßßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ  °²² ²± ²²Û ²²²± ²box. Each second was a nick  Û°Üܲ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²°°°±±²²ßßßßÛÛÛ °±²°°Û±°±²Û ±±°±Û²carved on a metal flywheel. ܱ ²²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²±°°°±²²²±ÜßÛÛ ±°°°²²°²Û²²±±°Û°²But therein lay the secret, Üßܲ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²±°°°²²²ßß ß²°²²²²²±Û²Û±°²±²for in those measurements  ܲ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ±°°°²²²ßßßßßß²²ß²°Û±²±²ÜI discovered the secret of  ܱ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²°°°²²²²²±ßß ßßßßßßß²time and life itself."  ±±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²°°°±²²²²²±±°°±±²²²  ß±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²°°°°±±²²²±±°±²²±"In the measurement of ±±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²°°°°±±²²±±°±²±time, I have discovered ±±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±°°°±±±²±°°±±timelessness." ±±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°°±±±±±°±±±±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±±±°±±±±°°±And with that, the   °±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²±²²±±±±±±±°°clock maker pulled  ß°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²²²²±±±±±°°the curtain back to°±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²ÛÛ²²²±±±±°°reveal standing ß°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²ÛÛÛÛ²²±±±±°°there on stage, °²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²ÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±±°°in the full ß°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±±°°form of her °²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±±°°eternal ß°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßßÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±beauty,  °²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±his wifeß°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±reborn.°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±±°°± ÛÛÛÛß°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±ÛÛ Ûß°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß Ü²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±ÛÛÛ°±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßܲ²²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±± ß°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±ß°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±°²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÜÜßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜßÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜßÛÛÛÛÛßßßßßÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßܱ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÛßßßß °°ßßßÛÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±±ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßßßßÛ °ÜÜßßÜ °°° ÛÛÛÛÜÜßßßßßÛÜÜÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±±ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ Ü²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßß  ±°  ²ßÛÜßÜ°ÞÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±± ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßß Ü²ÛÛ²  ßÛßÞÝÞÝÞÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±± ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßß ²²Ý Ûß Ü ßÜ ± ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±± ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÛÛßßßßÛßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝÝ ÞÝ ° Ý ÞÝÜß ²Û ° ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±± ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛßß°ÜÜÜÛß° ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛ °  ²Ý°ßÜ Ûß Þ²  °ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±± ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛßÛÜß°°°ßÛÜ°° ßßÛÛÛÛ ° °±²Ü°°ßßÜÜÛÛßÜÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±± ÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛßß Û°±²Ûß²Û°ßÜ°ÜÜ ßÛÝÝ ÞÝ°±²²ÛÜÜÜÜÜ ÛÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±± ÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛ ° Û°²Ûß°Ûß°ܲÛß± ÜÛÜÛ Ü°  °°±±° ÜÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±± ÛÛÛÛ ²ÛÛÜÜ°ßÛÜÛÛß°ܲ±° ±° ÛÛÛÛÛß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±± ÛÛßܲÛÛÛÛÛÜÜ ßÛÜܲ±°° Þß  ÛÛÛÛßÜÛßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±± Ûßܲ²ÛÛÛÛÜÜßßßÜÜßß ÜÜÜÛÜ ÜÛÛÛ ÛÛÛßÜßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±± ßܲ²ÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÜÜÜÜÜßßßßÛÜßÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÜßßÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±± ܱ²²ÛÛÛÛÜßÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛ ÛÛÛßÜÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±± ±²²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛ ÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±± ²²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜßßÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛßÜÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±± A collective²²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜßÛÛ ÛÛßÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±  exclamation ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ ÛÛÜÜÜÜßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±  of surprise ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛßÜÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±  escaped the ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛßÜÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²±±°°±±±±±  crowd, followedÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ Û ÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²²±±°°±±±±±  by a shocked ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßÜÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²²±±°°±±±±  silence. No one ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßÜÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²²²±±±°°±±±±  moved. ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ²²²ÛÛ²²±±°°±±±± ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ Û²²²²ÛÛÛÛ²²±±°°±±±  "Her body is reformed, ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²ßܲÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°°±± her mind reawakened, her ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²ÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°°± memories regained. My wife ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜßßÛÛÛÛ²ÛßßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°° is returned." ÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±° ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±° A slow murmur began to spread ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±° throughout the crowd, and within ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°°  seconds an incomprehensible cacophonyÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±°°°  of hundreds of incredulous voices ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±°°°  filled the square. ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±°°°° ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°°°± But when the automaton of the clock maker'sÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°°°± wife stepped forward, a hush fell over all ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°±°±± those assembled in the square. The crowd   ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±°±±°±±± watched in rapt wonder as she moved across   Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°±±±°±± the stage. Later, when the townspeople told  Û Û  ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°±±±°±±±  stories about that day, they would say she  ÜÛ °  ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±±°±±±°±± seemed to glide with the grace of a bird   Û Û °   ° °°ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²±°±±±°°± floating on a current of air high above  Üß  Û°   ° °°°°° ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²±°°±±±°° a distant mountain ridge, so softly did  Û Û°  °° °°°°°  ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛ²±°±±±±° she step. And when she spoke, her voice  ÛÛÜ°  °° °°°°° °° °±ßßÛÛÛÛÛ²±°±±° was just as they remembered. ÛßßÜÜÛ °Û° ° °°°°° °° °±±±²ÜÜßßÛÛÛ²±°°ß Û²²ßÛ²²Û ÜÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜ ±±ÜܲßßÜ  "I'm sorry I had to be away for so ÛßÜßÜßÜÛ ² ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛܲ² °long," she started. "It wasn't by ßܲ²Üß  ²²²²²²² ² ÛÛ Û²ÛÛÜ °   choice." Û²  ² ÛÛÛ²²²²²ÛÛ Ü   Ü²Ü ÜÜÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²ÛÛÛÛÛ ²Ü "But I hope you can accept that I've come Û°²ÜßÛÜ ßßÛÛßßÜÜÜÜÜßßÛÛÛ  ÛÛÛÛÛ ²²back. I've missed you all."  ßß²²²ßßß Û ÛÛßßß²ÜÜÛ  Û ß ²ÜÜܲ Û²²  ßßß²ÜÜ  ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß² Üßß²²ÜÜÜ  ß²There were few who were unmoved by the ßßß Û ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ Üß²°²ßßßßÜ °ÜÜ ßß²²Ü impassioned yearning in her tone as   ÛÜßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÜÜÜÛßßÛ °°±²²  ²Û she spoke of reawakening from the    ß ÛÛÛÛÛ²²ÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ °°±²²Û² ²Û darkness to the voice and waiting    ß°²ÜÜßßßßß ÜÛÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ °±²ÛÛ²± ²Û hands of her husband, but one of ²    Ü°±²ÛÛß  ÛÜܲßÛÜÛÛÛÜ Û °± ßÛÛ±Ý ²Û those few grew more and more ±²   °±²ÜÜßßß ÛÛÛßܲ±ßÛÜÜÛÛÛ °± ²± ÛÛÛ enraged the longer she spoke; for °±² Ü Ü°±²²ÛÛ ÛÛÛÛßßÛÜÜ°±²ßÛß²± ÞÛÛÛ though she did not say so, behind Ü°°Üß ÛÜÜßßßß Üܲ²±°°±²ßÛß Ü Ü ²±Ü ÞÛÛÛ her words hid an implication that   Ü°±²ÛÛÛßß ÜÜÜÜܲ²ßßßß °° ÞÛÛßÝÝÞ± ±±ÞÛÛÛ meant the end of everything, and  ß°±ÜÜßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß°±±±² ÜßÛ ßܱ ±±ßÞÛÛ denied the truths that the priest ßÜ°±²ÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²²²ßÜß  ܲ± Ü ÜÛÛÛ had always held so dear. °±ÜÜßßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜß  ܲ± ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ±²²ÛÛßßßÜßß ß ß±² ÛÛßßßßßß By the time the ceremony of the ÜßßßÜß ÜÜ °±²  ± unveiling of the clock maker's wife was ÛÛ Üß Þ²²²ÜÜßßß  ± complete, the priest had heard more than ÛÜß  ßßßßßß   ± enough to know that he must find a way to ÜßÞ²²²²²²Ý  ± put an end to the abomination that she so Üßßßßßßß   ² obviously was. That it was both his duty andÜßÞÛÛÛ²²²Ý  ² his desire made the decision to unmake the Üßßßßßßßß  ² clock maker's work all the more satisfying. ÜßÛÛÛÛÛ²²  Û He would undo what had been done.  Üß ßßßßßßß  Û  Üß ÛÛÛÛÛÛ²  Û But how? He watched as the clock maker and Üß ßßßßßßß Û his wife descended from the stage to the  ÛÛÛÛßßß Û aporetic arms of the townspeople, he watched ÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛ Û as the crowd hesitantly reached out to touch ÞÛÛß²²ÛÛÛ Û her as if she were something hallowed rather ßÜÛ ²²Û Û  than the desecration of all that was holy, andÜß ßÝÞ²Û Û  he watched as she was accepted by the people ÜÛÛÛÜÛßÜÛÛ Û Ü  not for what she was but for their memories Üßܲ²ÛßßÜÜ  Û°° ²Ü  of who she used to be, and he suddenly  ܱ±ßÜÜÛÛÛ ܲ² Û ° ²²²²Ü  knew the path he must take to unmask the °°ßܲ²²ÛÛ Û²²ßÛ Ý° ²Ý ÞÝ  malignance that was in their midst. °ßܲ²ßÛÛÛ ÛÛÛ۲ܲݰÞ²Ý ÞÝ  Preparations needed to be made. ßܲÛÜ ÜÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²Ý°Þ²Ý ² Û   ßßßßßßß Û²ÛÛÛÛÛ²Û° ²²  ²  The next few weeks were the happiest ofßÛ   Üß²ÛÛÛßÛÝÞ²²ÛÛÛÛÛÛ° ²² Üܲ the clock maker's life. He and his wife ÛÝ   Þ°Üß²Ü ÜÝÞ²²²²ßßßÛ °Þ²²ßßß nightly hosted their old friends to  ÛÝ    °°°Üß²²Û ß²²²²ÜÜß °Þß²ß Üß dinner and dessert, learning all thatÜßÛ   Û  °°°°Üßßß ßß²²ßßÜßÛßÜß   had happened in the town over the ÛÛÜß      ß°°°°ÛÜß°ÜÜÜÜ°°°ÝßÜ Üß   course of that lost year. There hadßÜÜ ÜÜßÜßÛÛÛÛßÜß°°°°°ÛÛ  Û  Üß Û  been weddings missed and promotions  ßßÜÛ ßÛÜ Ü ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛ Üß   celebrated. There had been ßßÜÜ  ÛÜ ßß ßßßßÜÜÜÜ        retirement parties, anniversaries,     ßßÜÛßÜ  ß²²²²ßßßßßß       ßÜ and new business ventures. There   ßÛÛÜÜÜܲ²²²²²ß ÜßÜÛ  had been births and birthdays; and ²  ÛßÛ  ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜܲ Û  Û  everyone seemed eager to relay the ܲ  Û ÛÛÜÜßßßßßßÜÜÜ ßß Ü  news of their families to the clock ßܲ    Û Û  Þ°°°°°°ÛßßßÜÜÜßÛ maker and his wife. ßßÜÜÛ   Û ßÜ  ÞÛ°°°°°°ÛÜÛÛÜß Û ÛÛÛßßßÜÛ  Û  Û  ÞÛÛ°°°°°ÛßßÜÛ  Û But perhaps the most attention came ÛÛ Ü ÛÛ Û  Û  Þ²ÛÛ°°°°ÜÜÜÛ Üß  from those whose own loved ones had ÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛßÜ  Û  ²ÛÛÛ°°°ÛÛÛÜß recently passed away, for they would ²ÛÛÛÛßßÜÛ  Û ±²ÛÛÛÛ°ßßÜÛÝ question the clock maker about how they ±²ÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛ Û °±²²ÛÛÛÛÜÛÛÝ might go about bringing them back to life,°±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛßßß ÜßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßß and to these he invariably said the same Ü°±²ÛÛÛÛ ÜÛÛ°±ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÝ thing: "I will do what I can."  Ü°±²ÛÛÛÛÜÛßßÜÜß²²ÛÛÛßßß  Ü°±²ßßß ÜÜÜÛ°°ÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÝ But it wasn't long before the rumour  ßÜÜÛÛÛÛÛßßÜÜÜܱ²ÛÛÛßßß surfaced that the clock maker and his wife  Ü°ßßß ÜÜÛÛÛÛÝ°°ÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛ were not, in fact, married any longer,   ßß±²ÛÛÛÛÛßß Üܱ²²ÛÛßßßß and their continued life together would  ±°ßßß ÜÜÜÛÛÛÝ °ÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛ be an affront to God and to the public. Ûß°±²ÛÛÛßß Ü ÜÜܱ²²ÛÛßßß For had they not sworn to take each other Üßß ÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛ   °ÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÝ only unto death, and had the clock  ±°±²ÛÛÛÛÛßßÜÜܱ²ÛÛÛßßß maker's wife not undeniably died that  ±°ßßß ÜÜÜÛÛÛ  °ÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÝ fateful day over a year ago? And while  ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßßß  ßßÜßßßßß ÜÜÜ most of the townspeople found the idea  ±°ßßß ÜÜÜÛÛÛ ÜÜ°±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛß ridiculous, and argued that the wife's  ßßÛÛÛÛßßßß Ü Ý°ßÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÛ rebirth signaled the marriage's  ÜÜ ÜÜÜÛÛÛßß  ßßßßßßßßÜÜÜ resumption, it was still repeated around  °ßßßß ÜÜÛÛß ßÜÜßßßßßßÜÜ the town until the validity of the  ßßÛÛÛßßß ÜÜÛ °±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ marriage was questioned even by the  Ü ßÜÜÛßßß ÜÜ ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ mayor, who asked the scholars at the  Ü ßÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÜÜÜÜÜܲß university to look into the matter.   °±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛ²²Ý   °±²ÛÛÛÛÛÛßßÜßÛ²²Ý It was the priest, however, who   °±²ßßÜÜÜÛÛÝÞÛ²² suggested the most elegant solution. They Üß °±ÛÛÛÛÛÝÞÛ²Ý would simply have to be remarried as soon  ßÜ °±²ÛÛÛÛ Û²Ý as possible, and he would be happy to do ßÜ °²ÛÛÛÜß²² the honour himself at the church alter atÛ °²ÛÛÛÜßßßÜ the base of the great clock tower. Û °²ÛÛÛÜßÛÜßÜ Ü Û °±ÛÛÛÛÜ Û Ü The clock maker at first resisted Üß ÝÞÝ°²ÛÛÛßßßÜß²Üß  ÜÜ  the idea, believing it Üß  ܲ² Û °ßßß ßßÜß²ÜÜÜÜßßßß would imply that his ÜÜÜܲ²²² ²Ý  ܲ°  þ  ÜÜß wife was not the woman ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß  ±ÝÝ Û° ÞÛÜßÜ   ÜÜß he had married; but at the   ²ß  ²ß ÜÜÛÛÛÜÜÜßß urging of those around him,    Üß  ÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛßßß in order to put this minor   Üß  ÜÜÛÛÛÛÛßßß controversy to rest, and despite his  ÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛßßßßß own misgivings, he finally agreed. They ßßßßßßßßßßßßß would be remarried at the end of the month. The priest was invaluable at that time. He took control of all matters pertaining to the wedding, from the details of the ceremony to the organization of the public celebration afterwards. He managed everything. His hand was seen in the catering, the floral arrangements, the music, even the seating; and when asked how it was that he could be so prepared for so unexpected an event, he simply responded that he had officiated at countless weddings in the town over the years, and that with the mayor's blessing and the town's goodwill it was nottoo difficult to expedite the proceedings. The day of the wedding arrived. As many of the townspeople as could fit were satin the church, with many more standing outside in the churchyard and spilling out into the main square of the town. In the front rows were the mayor, the assistant mayor, numerous aldermen and other leading citizens of the town. The priest conducted the ceremony with a grace that completely masked his true feelings. The clock maker, he said, had shown everyone how the ingenuity of a single man dedicated to his craft could bring about miracles, and that the powerof love could indeed conquer death. "And for that reason itself we should celebrate, for this union is an affirmation of all that we believe is best about ourselves; that we can rise above the base nature of our mortality, and that our love for each other is a stronger force than the accidents of earth and the ravages of time." "So therefore let this marriage be a symbol of all we are capable of, and all wehope." After the wedding vows were spoken, the priest led the clock maker and his wife up the stairwell leading to the top of the clock tower, so that the couple couldbe seen on the balcony by the assembled crowd below. It was a fitting spot for the completion of the ceremony, the priest had argued, with the clock maker standing next to his greatest works in view of everyone. And at that moment, thechurch bells would ring in celebration. At the top of the tower, behind the four great clock faces that displayed the time in each direction, was the room that stored the clockwork machinery the clock maker had designed years ago. A large pendulum swung to one side, while an intricate web of gears, weights, and springs clicked and clacked with each passing second. Above it all, accessible by an old ladder that led to a rickety platform, hung the two great bronze cast bells of the church tower. It was here that the priest had laid his trap. At the right moment, seconds before the hour struck, the clock maker and his wife stepped out onto the balcony of the clock tower to raise their arms to the gathered throng below. Thetownspeople cheered the newly remarried couple that had defied death, and no onenoticed that the hands on the clock face behind them had struck noon but the accompanying bell rings had failed to sound above the loud din of the cheering crowd. No one noticed except, of course, for the clock maker, who glanced behind himself in quick consternation to see the priest in the doorway giving a confused shrug as he pointed upwards at the silent bells. When they had left the balcony and reentered the clockwork room, the clock makerquickly ascertained that the machinery itself was in pristine working condition,and surmised that the issue with the bells must have come from the bells themselves and most probably from the bell hammers that the clockwork was supposed to be connected to. He therefore climbed the ladder to get to the platform from which he could reach the bells. Upon reaching the top of the ladder, the clock maker saw that the wooden brackets that braced the bell hammers had been ripped up from their moorings, sothat the hammers were well out of alignment with the bells they were supposed tohit when dropped by the clockwork machinery. It didn't occur to him to be suspicious about how that might have happened. To get a closer look, the clock maker raised himself onto the platform, at whichpoint his weight proved to be too great and the entire wooden structure of platform and ladder suddenly collapsed under him. He was dropped backwards to the floor twelve feel below amidst the shattered wood of the broken platform, his head hitting the floor with a hard thud that knocked him senseless. His wiferan over and knelt over him in fear, and the last thing the clock maker saw as his eyes clouded over was the priest hitting his wife in the back of the head with a large shovel. But he was not unconscious for long. When he came to, the priest had buried his wife's prone body under the debris of the collapsed ladder and platform and was kneeling ready to finish her off with another blow to the head. Outrage flooded the clock maker, giving him the strength to push himself up and jump onto the priest, whose attempt to fend him off was feeble in the midst of the clock maker's fury. They grappled each other over the decumbent body of the clock maker's wife, the clock maker attempting to incapacitate the priest through the sheer ferocity of his attack, while the priest frantically defended himself fromthe clock maker's assault. They spun and disentangled only for the clock maker to advance with a roar once again, and yet again the priest desperately tried toevade the clock maker's rage. The clock maker's wife slowly opened her eyes to see her husband and the priest wrestling with each other near the doorway to the balcony, but she found herselfunable to rise under the weight of the mound of wood on her back. She could therefore do nothing but watch in helplessness as her husband the clock maker made yet another attack upon the priest, rushing forward and grabbing him in a tight clasp that sent them both out the door towards the balcony railing, and she screamed in horror as they tumbled over the edge together. She was still trapped under the debris of the sabotaged platform when the mayor and his aides came bursting into the room minutes later. They worked her free, and amidst the sobs of frustration and loss she told them everything that had occurred in that cursed room. The back of her head was cracked open, and the gears of her clockwork were visible within. The mayor offered to take her to thehospital, but she shook her head with a steel resolve and replied, "I don't needa doctor. I need a craftsman." Then she slowly climbed down from the clock tower, entered the crowd of shocked onlookers outside the church, and made her way home. The clock maker was buried in the churchyard two days later, in the shadow of the clock tower from which he had fallen, and the bells remained silent as his casket was lowered into his grave. The huge crowd of townspeople who had come to mourn his passing noted that his wife was not present at the funeral, but that night they heard the unmistakable sounds of metalwork emanating from the clock maker's workshop in the basement ofhis house, and they understood that they would not see her again for a year, andwhen at last she did emerge from that basement of clockwork miracles, she would not be alone. - Whazzit SAUCE00The Clockmaker Whazzit Mistigris 20140820×3PùIBM VGA