.......:=* *=:.......
........:= =:........
.........: :.........
.......... ..........
.........: :.........
........:= & DREAM PALACE & =:........
.......:=* : ----- ------ : *=:.......
......:=** & ..... ...... & **=:......
.....:=**& * ..... ...... * &**=:.....
....:=**&@ : ..... ...... : @&**=:....
...:=**&@# : ..... ...... : #@&**=:...
..:=**&@## . ..... ...... . ##@&**=:..
.:=**&@### ###@&**=:.
..:=**&@## ##@&**=:..
...:=**&@# NOT ACTUALLY A PALACE. A COTTAGE IN THE #@&**=:...
....:=**&@ WOODS (TEMPERATE CLIMATE, RAINS EVERY @&**=:....
.....:=**& OTHER DAY, SPRINGS AND STREAMS AND &**=:.....
......:=** MYSTERIOUS IRON AND STONE ARTIFACTS, **=:......
.......:=* BIRDLAND-ISH ETERNAL SPRING (LATE *=:.......
........:= SPRING)) =:........
.........: :.........
.......... = ..........
.........: :.........
........:= I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AT SIX AM. IT'S =:........
.......:=* DARK, AND THE STARS ARE OUT, BUT THE *=:.......
......:=** SUN IS ABOUT TO RISE. ITS A LONG DAY, **=:......
.....:=**& BEFORE IT FADES TO NIGHT AGAIN, AND &**=:.....
....:=**&@ THEN IT STAYS SO UNTIL I FALL ASLEEP. @&**=:....
...:=**&@# IT DOESN'T RISE UNLESS I'VE HAD MY #@&**=:...
..:=**&@## DREAMS. ##@&**=:..
.:=**&@### ###@&**=:.
..:=**&@## * ##@&**=:..
...:=**&@# #@&**=:...
....:=**&@ IN THIS COTTAGE THERE'S A LOT OF RADIO @&**=:....
.....:=**& EQUIPMENT, SOUND STUFF, SYNTHS, TAPE &**=:.....
......:=** PLAYERS. PEN AND PAPER, BOOKS, CAMERAS, **=:......
.......:=* MIRRORS, PRISMS, AND VARIOUS THINGS TO *=:.......
........:= DO ART WITH. THE FRIDGE IS FILLED WITH =:........
.........: DIFFERET FOODS, ALL OF THEM INTRIGUING, :.........
.......... SLIGHTLY WEIRD. ..........
.........: :.........
........:= @ =:........
.......:=* *=:.......
......:=** I HAVE FRIENDS - THERE'S A CAT, AND A **=:......
.....:=**& DOG (WHO IS RIDICOLOUSLY LARGE AND &**=:.....
....:=**&@ WANTS TO BE THE BIG SPOON). I LISTEN TO @&**=:....
...:=**&@# THE SHORTWAVE RADIO, AND TRANSMIT A BIT #@&**=:...
..:=**&@## MYSELF, SONGS AND POETRY, AND FOUND ##@&**=:..
.:=**&@### SOUNDS FROM THE FOREST. THE OTHERS TELL ###@&**=:.
..:=**&@## OF THEIR LIVES, PLAY THE GUITAR FOR ME, ##@&**=:..
...:=**&@# AND TELL TALES OF THE OLD WORLD. I #@&**=:...
....:=**&@ CONSIDER THEM FRIENDS AS WELL. @&**=:....
.....:=**& &**=:.....
......:=** @ **=:......
.......:=* *=:.......
........:= MOST IMPORTANTLY, THERE'S A TWO SQUARE =:........
.........: METER AREA ON THE FLOOR WHERE I CAN :.........
.......... "SAVE" THINGS. WHATEVER I PUT IN HERE ..........
.........: WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE NIGHTLY :.........
........:= RESET. EVERYTHING ELSE, HOWEVER, IS =:........
.......:=* COMPLETELY RESET OVERNIGHT: SYNTH *=:.......
......:=** PATCHES REMOVED, FOOD UNEATEN, WOUNDS **=:......
.....:=**& HEALED, AND WHEREVER AND WHENEVER I'D &**=:.....
....:=**&@ FALL ASLEEP I'D ALWAYS WAKE UP FULLY @&**=:....
...:=**&@# RESTED IN MY BED. SOMETIMES THERE'S #@&**=:...
..:=**&@## ACCIDENTS WHERE I LOSE STUFF BY ##@&**=:..
.:=**&@### FORGETTING TO PUT THEM IN THE SQUARE. ###@&**=:.
..:=**&@## ##@&**=:..
...:=**&@# . #@&**=:...
....:=**&@ @&**=:....
.....:=**& AT NIGHT, I HAVE DEMI-LUCID DREAMS &**=:.....
......:=** WHERE THE SPIRITS OF THE FOREST AROUND **=:......
.......:=* THE COTTAGE TRIES TO COMMUNICATE. HERE, *=:.......
........:= IT'S NOT ENDLESS BUT CONNECTED TO A =:........
.........: LARGE SPRAWLING CITY, WHERE MY RADIO :.........
.......... FRIENDS LIVE. WE GO EXPLORING TOGETHER ..........
.........: - THINGS ARE DEEP AND DARK - BUT UNLIKE :.........
........:= ME, THEY NEVER REMEMBER DURING THE DAY. =:........
.......:=* THIS IS A MYSTERY WE OFTEN DISCUSS. *=:.......
......:=** **=:......
.....:=**& &**=:.....
....:=**&@ @&**=:....
...:=**&@# #@&**=:...
..:=**&@## ##@&**=:..
.:=**&@### ###@&**=:.