Untwirl

"Undoubtedly," he said, as he twirled and untwirled a note signed Helen Ambrose, "the gifts needed to make a great commander have been absurdly overrated.

Just now an on-duty double-toots his whistle, no chicken-fighting, another hers, no running on the deck; two more simply twirl theirs, the cords shor tening and accelerating around their index fingers while their mirrored eyes scan the water--then, with a practiced flip, the counterclock untwirl; others rest from such labors, about to toot or twirl again soon.

Their favourite trick is spinning it round and round and then hopping on, clinging for dear life as it untwirls at alarming speeds.