The Silver Coil

I took position on the dark oak desk to survey the perimeter. A compact yellow casing lay wedged between two hardbound ledgers. I gripped the notched steel lip protruding from its mouth, braced my boots, and drew it out. A rigid metallic ribbon extended four inches, marked with precise black hatches. A surveyor's instrument of sound construction, though prone to sudden recoil. I clicked the locking tab firmly down to hold the measure in place. It will serve well for charting these timber plains.