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.