.,~†*%####                                          ####%*†~,.
..,~†*%###                                          ###%*†~,..
...,~†*%##                                          ##%*†~,...
..,~†*%###                                          ###%*†~,..
.,~†*%####                                          ####%*†~,.
..,~†*%###         . .. ... ~~#~~ ... .. .          ###%*†~,..
...,~†*%##      .  .~~~    ~ ~#~ ~    ~~~.  .       ##%*†~,...
..,~†*%###         . .. ... ~~#~~ ... .. .          ###%*†~,..
.,~†*%####                                          ####%*†~,.
..,~†*%### 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.      ###%*†~,..
...,~†*%##                                          ##%*†~,...
..,~†*%###                                          ###%*†~,..
.,~†*%####                                          ####%*†~,.
..,~†*%###                                          ###%*†~,..
...,~†*%##                                          ##%*†~,...