####@†=«-.                                          .-«=†@####
###@†=«-..                                          ..-«=†@###
##@†=«-...                                          ...-«=†@##
#@†=«-....                                          ....-«=†@#
@†=«-.....                                          .....-«=†@
†=«-......          . .. ... ««#«« ... .. .         ......-«=†
=«-.......       .  .«««    « «#« «    «««.  .      .......-«=
†=«-......         . .. ... ««#«« ... .. .          ......-«=†
@†=«-.....                                          .....-«=†@
#@†=«-.... a secret roundabout: in what used to be  ....-«=†@#
##@†=«-...  brazil or china. fenced in, secluded by ...-«=†@##
###@†=«-..  special plants growing unusually tall.  ..-«=†@###
####@†=«-.    spelled in by purposeful symmetry,    .-«=†@####
###@†=«-..     roads like symbols, aligned with     ..-«=†@###
##@†=«-...  ley lines. dialed in with well-rounded  ...-«=†@##
#@†=«-....             gps coordinates.             ....-«=†@#
@†=«-.....                                          .....-«=†@
†=«-......               ... - = - ...              ......-«=†
=«-.......                                          .......-«=
†=«-......   a dangerous game: the roundabout is    ......-«=†
@†=«-.....   important to some large constellation  .....-«=†@
#@†=«-....       of intents and bureaucracies.      ....-«=†@#
##@†=«-...  governments and companies are creatures ...-«=†@##
###@†=«-..     in a way. yet people sneak small     ..-«=†@###
####@†=«-.   between their claws, and hide in the   .-«=†@####
###@†=«-..     roadside bushes. they wait there.    ..-«=†@###
##@†=«-...                                          ...-«=†@##
#@†=«-....    vehicles approach; the game is on -   ....-«=†@#
@†=«-.....    quickly the people assemble in well   .....-«=†@
†=«-...... practiced geometries. their bodies make  ......-«=†
=«-.......  counter-spells on the asphalt. traffic  .......-«=
†=«-......   is instantly diverted, flows in sick   ......-«=†
@†=«-.....  ways, like dogs let loose. symmetry is  .....-«=†@
#@†=«-....                   lost.                  ....-«=†@#
##@†=«-...                                          ...-«=†@##
###@†=«-.. cars are ejected into the greens. ships  ..-«=†@###
####@†=«-.     collide. there are many kinds of     .-«=†@####
###@†=«-..      casualties, on both sides. the      ..-«=†@###
##@†=«-...    spellmakers will not come home. it    ...-«=†@##
#@†=«-....   sickens me, this physical reality of   ....-«=†@#
@†=«-..... it, but the cause is just. i sneak back  .....-«=†@
†=«-......      over the fense, heading south.      ......-«=†
=«-.......                                          .......-«=
†=«-......                                          ......-«=†
@†=«-.....                                          .....-«=†@
#@†=«-....                                          ....-«=†@#
##@†=«-...                                          ...-«=†@##