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.