.........: :.........
.......... ..........
.........: :.........
........:« «:........
.......:«= =«:.......
......:«== . . . ==«:......
.....:«==$ . . . . . . $==«:.....
....:«==$& : : : : : : : : &$==«:....
...:«==$&¶ « « « « « « « « « « « ¶&$==«:...
..:«==$&¶# ======================================== #¶&$==«:..
.:«==$&¶## ##¶&$==«:.
..:«==$&¶# JUST OFF THE COAST TO THE BALTIC SEA #¶&$==«:..
...:«==$&¶ THERE'S A FRESHWATER POND, SECLUDED ¶&$==«:...
....:«==$& AMONG ASHEN AND JUNIPER. A CLEFT IN THE &$==«:....
.....:«==$ LIMESTONE BEDROCK, SHARP-CUT FROM THE $==«:.....
......:«== SURROUNDING PLAINS, A NINETY DEGREE ==«:......
.......:«= DROP DOWN, DOWN, TO THE MIDNIGHT-BLACK =«:.......
........:« WATER. «:........
.........: :.........
.......... ««««========«««« ..........
.........: ««== ==«« :.........
........:« «««««== FAIRIES LIVE HERE. ==««««« «:........
.......:«= ««== ==«« =«:.......
......:«== ««««========«««« ==«:......
.....:«==$ $==«:.....
....:«==$& THEY SPEAK TO THE SLOANE, CARESS IT, &$==«:....
...:«==$&¶ URGE IT TO GROW THICKER, TANGLED, WITH ¶&$==«:...
..:«==$&¶# LONGER AND SHARPER THORNS. THEY TELL IT #¶&$==«:..
.:«==$&¶## TO STAY JUST BELOW THE GRASS, SO THAT ##¶&$==«:.
..:«==$&¶# THE ANIMALS WHAT COME TO DRINK THE #¶&$==«:..
...:«==$&¶ WATER CANNOT SEE IT BEFORE IT DRAWS ¶&$==«:...
....:«==$& THEIR BLOOD. CLOSER TO THE POND, THE &$==«:....
.....:«==$ SLOANE CAN GROW TALLER, BEING ABLE TO $==«:.....
......:«== HIDE ALSO IN THE JUNIPER. ==«:......
.......:«= =«:.......
........:« THE FAIRIES WILL BECKON THE ANIMALS TO «:........
.........: PUSH FORWARD, TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE :.........
.......... ALMOST AT THE WATER, THAT THEY MAY ..........
.........: DRINK SOON. AND THEY WILL TUG ON THE :.........
........:« SLOANE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THORNS CUT «:........
.......:«= DEEP. WHEN THEY FINALLY FIND THE PATH =«:.......
......:«== DOWN BETWEEN THE ROCKS, AWAY FROM THE ==«:......
.....:«==$ BUSHWORK AND INTO THE CLEFT, THEY ARE $==«:.....
....:«==$& BLEEDING FROM A THOUSAND WOUNDS. AS &$==«:....
...:«==$&¶ THEY DRINK FROM THE DARK WATER, IT IS ¶&$==«:...
..:«==$&¶# IN TURN DRINKING THE ANIMALS BLOOD. #¶&$==«:..
.:«==$&¶## ##¶&$==«:.
..:«==$&¶# THE CIRCLE IS COMPLETE, THE CONTRACT #¶&$==«:..
...:«==$&¶ CARRIED OUT; THE ANIMAL IS ABANDONED TO ¶&$==«:...
....:«==$& FIND ITS OWN WAY BACK. THE BUSHES ROOTS &$==«:....
.....:«==$ DRINK THE NUTRUTIOUS WATER. THE FAIRIES $==«:.....
......:«== DANCE IN THE SUNBEAMS. ==«:......
.......:«= =«:.......
........:« ======================================== «:........
.........: « « « « « « « « « « « :.........
.......... : : : : : : : : ..........
.........: . . . . . . :.........
........:« . . . «:........
.......:«= =«:.......
......:«== ==«:......
.....:«==$ $==«:.....
....:«==$& &$==«:....
...:«==$&¶ ¶&$==«:...