.........: :.........
........:~ ~:........
.......:~= =~:.......
......:~=% %=~:......
.....:~=%* *%=~:.....
....:~=%*# . .. ... ~~#~~ ... .. . #*%=~:....
...:~=%*#@ . .~~~ ~ ~#~ ~ ~~~. . @#*%=~:...
..:~=%*#@# . .. ... ~~#~~ ... .. . #@#*%=~:..
.:~=%*#@## ##@#*%=~:.
..:~=%*#@# 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. #*%=~:....
...:~=%*#@ @#*%=~:...
..:~=%*#@# #@#*%=~:..
.:~=%*#@## ##@#*%=~:.
..:~=%*#@# #@#*%=~:..
...:~=%*#@ @#*%=~:...