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.