.~-/**@# #@#&**/-~.
..~-/**@ @#&**/-~..
...~-/** #&**/-~...
....~-/**& &**/-~....
.....~-/** **/-~.....
......~-/* . .. ... --#-- ... .. . */-~......
.......~-/ . .--- - -#- - ---. . /-~.......
......~-/* . .. ... --#-- ... .. . */-~......
.....~-/** **/-~.....
....~-/**& 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. */-~......
.......~-/ /-~.......
......~-/* */-~......
.....~-/** **/-~.....
....~-/**& &**/-~....
...~-/** #&**/-~...