diff --git a/diigo-cache/src/cache.ts b/diigo-cache/src/cache.ts
index 86eafee..e925d10 100644
--- a/diigo-cache/src/cache.ts
+++ b/diigo-cache/src/cache.ts
@@ -92,11 +92,6 @@ export type Clock = {
 	sleep(ms: number): Promise<void>;
 };
 
-/** the live clock: the one place this module touches time */
-const liveClock: Clock = {
-	now: () => Date.now(),
-	sleep: (ms) => new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, ms)),
-};
 
 /** a cache's wiring: the webapp instance it asks on a miss, plus (private
  * cache only) the public companion's id, recorded once published */
@@ -122,9 +117,14 @@ abstract class PagedCache extends DurableObject<CacheEnv> {
 	#pause?: Promise<void>;
 	#clock: Clock;
 
-	/** the runtime constructs DOs with (ctx, env); `clock` defaults to the
-	 * live one, and a subclass can pass another */
-	constructor(ctx: DurableObjectState, env: CacheEnv, clock: Clock = liveClock) {
+	/** the runtime constructs DOs with (ctx, env), so the default — the
+	 * live clock, made here at the edge, nowhere in module scope — applies;
+	 * a subclass (tests) can pass another */
+	constructor(
+		ctx: DurableObjectState,
+		env: CacheEnv,
+		clock: Clock = { now: () => Date.now(), sleep: (ms) => new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, ms)) },
+	) {
 		super(ctx, env);
 		this.#clock = clock;
 	}