..=\*$##@# #@##$*\=..
..=\*$##@# #@##$*\=..
..=\*$##@# #@##$*\=..
.......\*# #*\.......
.....==*#@ @#*==.....
..=\*$##@@ . .. ... ==#== ... .. . @@##$*\=..
..=\*$##@# . .=== = =#= = ===. . #@##$*\=..
...===**$# . .. ... ==#== ... .. . #$**===...
.....=*$#@ @#$*=.....
....=*$$## A SECRET ROUNDABOUT: IN WHAT USED TO BE ##$$*=....
..=\*$##@# BRAZIL OR CHINA. FENCED IN, SECLUDED BY #@##$*\=..
..=\*$#@## SPECIAL PLANTS GROWING UNUSUALLY TALL. ##@#$*\=..
......=*## 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. ##@#$*\=..
......=*$# #$*=......
..=\*$###@ @###$*\=..
......\*## ##*\......
..=\*$#### ####$*\=..
..=\*$##@# #@##$*\=..