....:=**&& &&**=:....
...:=**&&@ @&&**=:...
..:=**&&@@ @@&&**=:..
.:=**&&@@# #@@&&**=:.
..:=**&&@@ @@&&**=:..
...:=**&&@ & 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. **=:......
.....:=**& &**=:.....
....:=**&& &&**=:....
...:=**&&@ @&&**=:...
..:=**&&@@ @@&&**=:..
.:=**&&@@# #@@&&**=:.
..:=**&&@@ @@&&**=:..