Seismograph Tracing Tremors in Predawn Dark

A seismograph sits on a metal desk, its needle moving across a sheet of graph paper. The room is dark, lit only by the soft blue glow of a nearby monitor and the faint red readouts of the instrument. Outside, the window shows a wet, gray sky typical of the turn of seasons near Dortmund. Condensation rests on the glass, blurring the faint outlines of rain-slicked streets. The graph paper fills the foreground, its grid lines sharp against the white surface. The needle leaves a jagged black line, marking the earth's subtle shifts. Dust motes float in the monitor's beam, settling slowly on the machine's casing. The edge of the desk reflects the cool light, at the base of the equipment in the quiet, humid night.