>The hands of the clock ticked strangely--almost as strangely as the clock was >numbered. What was worse, she couldn't tell what was supposed to be there, and >what wasn't.

This looks like there's some numbers in the clocks (dials) that we're supposed to ignore. Maybe there's stuff left out (although, I don't know how we'll figure out what isn't there). So I think this tends to clarify the 'hands of a clock' idea that's been floating around.

>"Is there something missing? Something not? Something else?" she asked >herself. She saw the patterns, she thought, but couldn't be sure.

>And the birds kept calling.

This is the main clue she gives us. I don't know what the **** it means, but it sounds important...

>Truly,
>Chelsea