TOCKO
Book Four of four

The Under

Twelve meters that tick, one faster than the rest, and a boiler that breathes.

Pim with one flat palm on a meter in the Under and the side of her head against it, listening for the one that ticks faster.

Thirteen complete stories, numbers 40-52 of fifty-two. This illustrated 8.5 × 8.5 in square hardcover edition is in production, with a Premium colour interior and matte cover.

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The thirteen games

Every story has its own illustration. One from this book is free to read and hear in full.

  1. Pim with one flat palm on a meter in the Under and the side of her head against it, listening for the one that ticks faster.
    Story 40 · free to read

    Fastest Meter

    One meter down here ticks faster than all the other eleven, and I have to say out loud whose flat it belongs to, and be right.

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  2. Mum takes pegs from the roof line while Pim holds the big sheet steady.
    Story 41

    Nine Pegs

    Get all nine pegs into your pocket before the pigeons go — because if one goes, they all go, and then you start again at nine.

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  3. Pim kneels close to the painted door and listens to her knuckle tap, her spoon on the floor.
    Story 42

    Painted Door

    The small door is painted shut and it only ever goes THUD — I have to make it say a knock instead, with my knee on it and one knuckle.

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  4. Pim pegs the big sheet to the roof line while Hod stands still beside the tank.
    Story 43

    Sheet First

    You always peg the little things first and the big sheet last, so the pulley squeals higher and higher — I'm doing it backwards, sheet first, and getting the squeal to go down the whole way.

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  5. Pim looks up and listens to the ceiling beside her bed and the cold pipe.
    Story 44

    Ceiling Walk

    I can hear Hod from upstairs cross my ceiling — so I have to call out which room he's standing in, three times in a row, and get every one right.

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  6. Pim prepares to push and lift the green door with both hands at once.
    Story 45

    Green Door Race

    Push and lift at the very same time, and get the green door open before Hod from upstairs is up the last six stairs.

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  7. Pim and Hod listen beside the Under’s row of black utility meters.
    Story 46

    One Word Each

    Your meter ticks, you say one word. My meter ticks, I say one word. First ones to finish the whole sentence together win.

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  8. Mum studies the roof tank while Pim waits by the door holding a sheet.
    Story 47

    Every Pigeon

    Pigeons go all at once or not at all — so I have to make every single one of them go up, on purpose, without touching one.

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  9. Pim gets her words ready beside the lift doors while Hod listens still.
    Story 48

    Beat The Song

    The Up-Down sings the same six notes every time it stops, and you have to get your whole message out before the last one finishes.

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  10. Pim pauses with one hand on the Under’s brick wall, listening before her next step.
    Story 49

    Boiler Steps

    One step for every breath the boiler takes, all the way down the Under and all the way back, and if the boiler misses a breath you start again.

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  11. Pim closes her eyes to listen to the Hall tiles while Hod waits at the front door.
    Story 50

    Twelve Clicks

    Twelve tiles in the Hall click and one of them knocks — I stand with my eyes shut and I have to call the knock every single time somebody crosses.

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  12. Mum and Pim listen to the courtyard’s echoes beside the lemon tree and grate.
    Story 51

    One Stone

    Every stone in the Middle throws your last word back at you — except one, and I have to walk on all of them until I find the one that keeps it.

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  13. Pim draws her wooden spoon along the cold pipe in Number Three and listens.
    Story 52

    Drag The Spoon

    The cold pipe only ever says tock — I'm going to make it say a long ring instead, all the way up through Hod's floor, before the ring runs out.

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