....^=*&§@                                          @§&*=^....
...^=*&§@#                                          #@§&*=^...
..^=*&§@##                                          ##@§&*=^..
.^=*&§@###                                          ###@§&*=^.
..^=*&§@##                                          ##@§&*=^..
...^=*&§@#          . .. ... ==#== ... .. .         #@§&*=^...
....^=*&§@       .  .===    = =#= =    ===.  .      @§&*=^....
.....^=*&§         . .. ... ==#== ... .. .          §&*=^.....
......^=*&                                          &*=^......
.......^=* 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.      ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........