Free The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

entirely in your ingenuity.”
    “Then Frederick and I will strive to satisfy your expectations.”
    “Thank you, Master Clockmaker, for your modesty and for granting my request. Come, Hannah.”
    Frederick took note of the girl’s name.
    He and Master Branch bowed to the two as they left the shop. Through the open door, Frederick saw the tall man withdraw from his post to follow the strange woman and her companion.
Hannah
. The door closed.
    Both of them stood there for a moment in a silence that lingered like the traumatized calm after a peal of thunder. Frederick looked at his shoes. “Thank you,” he said.
    “For what, Frederick?”
    “For letting me make the clock.”
    “But it would have been you.”
    “But you made sure she knew it.”
    “Years from now, she’ll be wanting your design as well as your work.”
    Years from now
. Frederick looked up at the ceiling, sure that Master Branch had said the same thing to his previous, failed apprentices.
    “I’m closing the shop for the rest of the day,” Master Branch said. He walked to the door. “I must meet a colleague at the guildhall.”
    Frederick nodded. “I’ll lock up.”
    Master Branch opened the door. “How would you like to accompany me?”
    A pause. “Truly?”
    “I have something I’d like to show you.”
    “Thank you, Master Branch. I’d like to come.”
    “Let’s be off, then.”
    Master Branch pulled out his keys and locked the door behind them. They crossed a few streets, and Frederick forced a measured pace. He wondered what this meant, that Master Branch was bringing him along. Probably nothing. Master Branch had just said it would be years, after all, but anticipation still tickled him like a gnat in his ear. A couple of blocks from the shop they arrived at the guildhall, and together they entered.
    Frederick had been here before on various errands. The building flexed with heavy timbers stained the color of coffee. The columns marched along in regular rows, supporting a lattice of rafters above. Frederick walked among them, admiring the clocks mounted on all four sides of each post. Dozens and dozens of clocks filled the space with so much ticking and chattering that the sound became an excited frenzy in the ear. There were American clocks, German clocks, and French clocks, too. A small group of guild members gathered and leaned in close conversation, tick-tocking in their own way. They murmured a greeting to Master Branch, and Frederick bowed his head to them as he walked by.
    Master Branch led him from the main hall and down several dark corridors. They came up to a small door, and Master Branch paused before opening it.
    “This is a very special room, Frederick.”
    “What is it?”
    “The guild’s private exhibition room.” He opened the door. “I thought we might get some inspiration for Madame Pomeroy’s commission.”
    Frederick stepped through and gasped.
    Inside were dozens of displays of the most ingenious clockwork he had ever seen. The number and variety of automatons overwhelmed him. He did not know where to focus his attention first.
    “Reginald Diamond would eat a mountain of dust the size of his museum to possess this collection.” Master Branch motioned for Frederick. “Come look at this, lad.”
    Frederick stepped up to the first display, a miniature old-style carriage made of wood, with horses and coachmen in replica livery. The wheels appeared to turn once every second.
    “What happens on the hour?” Frederick asked.
    “The little horses and men come alive. Sometimes the driver raises his whip or waves. Sometimes a horse will stamp its hoof or raise its head. I never know exactly what will happen.”
    “I want to see the next one.” Frederick moved on. “I want to see them all.”
    “Probably not all today.” Master Branch came up beside him, close enough for their shoulders to brush. “I’ve always loved this next one.” He smiled over a life-size clockwork rooster. “Simple