...:=:%* #&*%:=:...
..:=:%*# ##&*%:=:..
.:=:%*## ###&*%:=:.
..:=:%*# ##&*%:=:..
...:=:%* #&*%:=:...
....:=:%*& = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = &*%:=:....
.....:=:%* = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = *%:=:.....
......:=:% = = = = ELVES LIVE IN THE LAND = = = = %:=:......
.....:=:%* = = = = BEYOND THE GREAT DAM. = = = = *%:=:.....
....:=:%*& = IT WAS BUILT IN THE LATE SIXTIES. = &*%:=:....
...:=:%* = = = THE ELVES CAME TO US THEN. = = = #&*%:=:...
..:=:%*# = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ##&*%:=:..
.:=:%*## = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ###&*%:=:.
..:=:%*# THEY WERE VERY MANIPULATIVE, AND WE ##&*%:=:..
...:=:%* CAME TO TRUST THEM. = = = = = = = = US #&*%:=:...
....:=:%*& KIDS WOULD PLAY DOWN AT THE WATER EVEN &*%:=:....
.....:=:%* THOUGH WE WERE NOT ALLOWED. = = = = = = *%:=:.....
......:=:% = = SOMETIMES THE SLUICE WOULD CLOSE %:=:......
.....:=:%* ENTIRELY, AND THE RIVER AT THE DAMS *%:=:.....
....:=:%*& FOOT WOULD DRY UP, REVEALING THE ROCKY &*%:=:....
...:=:%* WATER GARDEN THAT HAD BEEN HIDDEN #&*%:=:...
..:=:%*# BENEATH, AND WE WOULD GO THERE. = = = = ##&*%:=:..
.:=:%*## = = = = BEFORE THE DAM OPENED AGAIN, ###&*%:=:.
..:=:%*# THERE WOULD BE A SIGNAL, BUT THE ELVES ##&*%:=:..
...:=:%* WOULD MAKE US NOT HEAR IT, AND SUDDENLY #&*%:=:...
....:=:%*& WE WOULD FIND THE WATER RISING, ALREADY &*%:=:....
.....:=:%* AT OUR KNEES. = = = = = = = = = = = = *%:=:.....
......:=:% = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = %:=:......
.....:=:%* = BY THEN THE ELVES WOULD BE GONE. = *%:=:.....
....:=:%*& = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = &*%:=:....
...:=:%* = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = #&*%:=:...
..:=:%*# ##&*%:=:..
.:=:%*## ###&*%:=:.
..:=:%*# ##&*%:=:..
...:=:%* #&*%:=:...
....:=:%*& &*%:=:....