Phut

"Phut." Something whipped into the ground beside him and there was a pinpoint flash from the cabin. "B-o-i-n-g-g-g." There was another flash and the bullet hit the rail and whined off into the night.

Then she heard the phut-phut-phut of an unfamiliar boat engine.

Even an expensive cracker can go off with a phut, not a bang, and burst to reveal one paper hat, one tired motto and a piece of plastic jewellery.