Mira wrote:

> > With a smile the woman lifts the plastic material saying, "We keep
> > this covered for its protection, you know."
>
>
>  Mira looks up and smiles and nods. She watches the woman remove the
>  covering.
>
> > As she removes the covering you see a rectangular box, about 30 cm
> > high and half that wide and deep. The box is made of a dark wood
> > with a pronounced grain that forms a swirling pattern. The pattern
> > in the grain seems to sparkle and flow under the light of the lamp,
> > almost like the swirls of a fast flowing stream as it passes over a
> > rocky bottom. The wood of the box has been carved to enhance the
> > effect, bringing it out here, and restricting it there to enhance
> > the feeling that the wood itself is a river of yellow and light
> > brown water flowing through a dark brown stream bed.
>
>
>  Mira sighs softly, a sound of deep appreciation.
>
> > "This is wood from the Povem tree. Its wood grain reacts like this
> > to light. Isn't it lovely?"
>
>
>  "I'm speechless."
>
> > Near the top of the box in a circular inset an analog clock has
> > been set. The clock's hands are silver, and gleam in the light and
> > the numbers around the outside rim are red LED's.
>
>  ooc: red led's? about small red gems that glow as if backlit by some
>  light source. 

OOC: Yes, but they have to be electronic lights so they can be 
reprogrammed for changes in planetary time systems.

> > A small oval platinum relief is inset just below the clock, "Press
> > here, and the door opens giving you access to the controls." the
> > old woman demonstrates, "You can adjust the time, or set the clock
> > to any planet's time system here, and also set it to play any of
> > the several tunes that are stored inside."
> >
> > She lifts the clock and shows you the bottom, "The mechanism can be
> > accessed here. The wooden casing removed so the clock's hardware
> > can be repaired or serviced. Although, that shouldn't be necessary
> > for many, many years. We guarantee this piece to work flawlessly
> > for 40 years."
>
>  "Its perfect." Mira says and reaches to lift her bag to the counter,
>  "Now for the fun part for you..."

After some bargaining you get to a final price of 325 marks. It is 
expensive, but for a work of art like this...

Eris
Akus