...:==*$¤@ @¤$*==:...
....:==*$¤ ¤$*==:....
.....:==*$ $*==:.....
......:==* *==:......
.......:== ==:.......
........:= . .. ... ==#== ... .. . =:........
.........: . .=== = =#= = ===. . :.........
.......... . .. ... ==#== ... .. . ..........
.......... ..........
.......... A SECRET ROUNDABOUT: IN WHAT USED TO BE ..........
.......... BRAZIL OR CHINA. FENCED IN, SECLUDED BY ..........
.......... SPECIAL PLANTS GROWING UNUSUALLY TALL. ..........
.........: SPELLED IN BY PURPOSEFUL SYMMETRY, :.........
........:= ROADS LIKE SYMBOLS, ALIGNED WITH =:........
.......:== LEY LINES. DIALED IN WITH WELL-ROUNDED ==:.......
......:==* GPS COORDINATES. *==:......
.....:==*$ $*==:.....
....:==*$¤ ... : = : ... ¤$*==:....
...:==*$¤@ @¤$*==:...
..:==*$¤@# 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. #@¤$*==:..
.:==*$¤@## ##@¤$*==:.
..:==*$¤@# #@¤$*==:..
...:==*$¤@ @¤$*==:...
....:==*$¤ ¤$*==:....
.....:==*$ $*==:.....