while (true) {
      Waiter pred = null;
      Waiter curr = waiters;
      if (curr == Waiter.TOMBSTONE) {
        return; // give up if someone is calling complete
      }
      Waiter succ;
      while (curr != null) {
        succ = curr.next;
        if (curr.thread != null) { // we aren't unlinking this node, update pred.
          pred = curr;