After many sleepless nights pondering my dilemma, I struck upon a solution so clear and true that that I was shocked at how long it took me to come to the idea. My philosophy of naturalism dictates that I do not interfere with the clockwork insects, as they have become, in a way, part of the natural order of things. However, that does not mean I cannot interfere or make plans against their creator.

First, I set about capturing one of the clockwork creations of the Tinkerer. This was easy enough, and within a day, I had a modified katydid captured within one of my killing jars.

Next, I traveled to the Clock District, and asked for the best horologist who might be interested in peculiar work. I was pointed confidently to G. Hogglesmith & Son and after much haggling over price, and much astonishment on their part over the clockwork insect, they agreed to make the modifications I requested.

I have been working for quite some time now on a method to make photonic captures remotely and from a smaller scale. I have only one small prototype to work with, as the cost of cutting lenses so small easily empties my coffers. Reluctantly, I provided my tiny photonic capturer to the horologists, and they went to work.

Through careful examination of the innards, they were, as I had hoped, able to discover a failsafe that would cause the creation to retrace its steps back to its creator—probably installed so that the creator could make repairs to a damaged unit. Hogglesmith’s modifications made sure that this would happen, and upon arriving at its birthplace, it would begin to take captures. After a set period of time of about five minutes, it would then reverse its movements again and return to me so that I could develop the captures and identify the meddlesome creator.

I could follow the insect, you see, but given the letter, I fear for the state of mind of the clockwork creator, and his aberrant way leads me to fear that he may be dangerous. This way, I remain safe myself, at least for the moment.

I have just now released the insect back into the wild. A rain storm has struck in the hours since, and I sit here at my desk, and it is all I can do not to be consumed with worry. My prototype is far too valuable to be lost, and if this plan fails, I am not sure how I might identify the Tinkerer among the millions that call the City home.

Originally published at Dr. Roundbottom. You can comment here or there.