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.