Word: Deasil

deasil

[dee-zuh l]

adverb, Chiefly Scot.

1. clockwise or in a direction following the apparent course of the sun: considered as lucky or auspicious.

*****************

    The object was a stone cube of about two feet from end to end.  On top was a

raised disk with tiny notches carved out around the perimeter.  Atop the disk was a thin

triangle that stood straight up, casting a shadow along the disk.  It was, however, quite a

bit lighter than its size and material would suggest.

    The trio gathered around it and looked at the odd cube.  They had spent the last

half hour trying to get it to do something, and the only thing they had determined was that

the disk was meant to turn, but refused to do so.

    “So, what should we do now?” Ted asked.  He held the box and examined the

other five sides of it, hoping for a clue.

    “Don’t ask me.” George said.  “I’m idead out.”

    Brian scanned the clear, sunny sky and then looked at the box for a moment.  “Hey, can you put it down for a sec?”

    Ted set the box on the grassy ground.  The triangle piece cast a short shadow

that reached the markings along the disk, but stretched no further than that.

    “What’s up?” George asked.

    “I think it’s a sundial.  You know, one of those things ancient people used before

they invented clocks.  I think it has something to do with the sun or time or something.

 We’ve tried turning it both ways, right?”

    “Yup.”

    Brian thought.  At first, the group had tried simply turning it both left and right, but

that had done nothing.  Then they tried looking for some kind of key in the ground nearby.

 But, there was neither key nor keyhole, so that idea was quickly abandoned.  

    “What’re you thinking?” Ted asked.

    “Let me try something real quick.”

    Brian grabbed the box and started moving it around until the shadow disappeared.

 He then grabbed the disk and turned.  The triangle remained stationary, but the rest of

the disk turned just a little bit, stopping with a small click.

“What did you just do?” Ted asked.  He stared wide eyed at the box with a hopeful grin on his face.

“I just figured the marks along the edge must mean something, so I tired lining up

the shadow with the first one, which is actually right in front of this piece here.

 So, I figure we line up the shadow with the rest of them going clockwise, and then see what happens.”

The three boys took turns adjusting the box’s sundial so that it lined up

appropriately each time.  Every time they got it right, the dial turned just a little more.

Soon, the three boys had gotten the shadow all the way around the dial, and were

rewarded by a deeper, louder click.  The trio looked at each other, not sure what

to do now.  Ted tried getting the disk to move more, but anything he tried resulted in nothing happening.  

“So, what now?” Ted asked.

“Well, try something.” George said.  Both of them looked at Brian.  

The smaller boy sighed and began examining the cube.  It was not long before he

found out that the cube was a box.  The top now had a tiny gap under it, which

Brian grabbed.  He looked at his friends and slowly opened the box.     

   

 **************************

Sorry, I have to post this video here.  You know it has to happen.  Sorry.  (Also, sorry about the formatting.  Blogger is being weird today, I think.)