Retraction

I hopped out through the open courtyard door and onto the sunlit garden workbench. A compact yellow tape measure rested on the timber slats. A few inches of curved steel blade extended from the casing. Crisp black millimeter markings lined the edge in strict, unbroken symmetry. Step one. I clicked along the metal strip, measuring each notch with my plastic foot blocks. Firm tension beneath my soles. Step two. At the casing, I leaned forward and pressed my beak firmly against the ribbed slide lock. A sharp click. The spring mechanism released—the yellow blade whipped backward in an instantaneous blur, snapping flush inside the slot. I held my balance. The air settled. Rapid recoil. A remarkably efficient spring system.