Clara Higgins
Listen to The Master of Forgotten Seconds by Clara Higgins as a bilingual audiobook with synchronized read-along text in English and Czech.
In the dimly lit quarter of the ancient coastal borough, Julian operated a modest horological workshop overflowing with ticking artifacts. The atmosphere inside smelled pleasantly of citrus polish, cedarwood shavings, and freshly ground hazelnut coffee. Julian had dedicated over four decades to mastering the labyrinthine mechanics of antique timepieces. Yet, despite his extensive erudition, nothing quite prepared him for the arrival of the stranger on a rainy Tuesday evening. A woman wrapped in a dark cotton coat stepped silently into the studio, shaking droplets from her hemp umbrella. Without uttering a word, she placed a velvet pouch upon the mahogany workbench with exquisite care. My grandmother entrusted this artifact to me, claiming it belonged to our distant ancestors, she whispered softly. Intrigued by her solemn demeanour, Julian gently pulled the drawstrings to reveal an extraordinary pocket watch. The casing was crafted from a burnished amalgam of brass and dark obsidian, heavily patinated by centuries of exposure. Its surface bore intricate engravings of forgotten constellations that seemed to shimmer under the gas lamps golden glow.