.&...&...& ...&..&&..
..&...&... ....&.&&&.
...&...&.. &.....&.&&
&...&...&. .&......&&
&&...&...& ..&.....&.
&&&...&... . . . ...&......
&.&&...&.. . . . . . . ....&.....
..&&&...&. , , , , , , , , &....&....
..&.&&...& ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .&....&...
....&&&... **************************************** ..&....&..
....&.&&.. &..&....&.
......&&&. JUST OFF THE COAST TO THE BALTIC SEA .&..&....&
&.....&.&& THERE'S A FRESHWATER POND, SECLUDED ..&..&....
.&......&& AMONG ASHEN AND JUNIPER. A CLEFT IN THE ...&..&...
..&.....&. LIMESTONE BEDROCK, SHARP-CUT FROM THE ....&..&..
...&...... SURROUNDING PLAINS, A NINETY DEGREE &....&..&.
....&..... DROP DOWN, DOWN, TO THE MIDNIGHT-BLACK .&....&..&
&....&.... WATER. ..&....&..
.&....&... ...&....&.
..&....&.. ~~~~^^^^^^^^~~~~ ....&....&
&..&....&. ~~^^ ^^~~ .....&....
.&..&....& ~~~~~^^ FAIRIES LIVE HERE. ^^~~~~~ &.....&...
..&..&.... ~~^^ ^^~~ .&.....&..
...&..&... ~~~~^^^^^^^^~~~~ ..&.....&.
....&..&.. &..&.....&
&....&..&. THEY SPEAK TO THE SLOANE, CARESS IT, .&..&.....
.&....&..& URGE IT TO GROW THICKER, TANGLED, WITH ..&..&....
..&....&.. LONGER AND SHARPER THORNS. THEY TELL IT ...&..&...
...&....&. TO STAY JUST BELOW THE GRASS, SO THAT ....&..&..
....&....& THE ANIMALS WHAT COME TO DRINK THE &....&..&.
.....&.... WATER CANNOT SEE IT BEFORE IT DRAWS &&....&..&
&.....&... THEIR BLOOD. CLOSER TO THE POND, THE &&&....&..
.&.....&.. SLOANE CAN GROW TALLER, BEING ABLE TO &.&&....&.
..&.....&. HIDE ALSO IN THE JUNIPER. ..&&&....&
&..&.....& ..&.&&....
.&..&..... THE FAIRIES WILL BECKON THE ANIMALS TO ....&&&...
..&..&.... PUSH FORWARD, TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE ....&.&&..
...&..&... ALMOST AT THE WATER, THAT THEY MAY &.....&&&.
....&..&.. DRINK SOON. AND THEY WILL TUG ON THE .&....&.&&
&....&..&. SLOANE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THORNS CUT ..&.....&&
&&....&..& DEEP. WHEN THEY FINALLY FIND THE PATH &..&....&.
&&&....&.. DOWN BETWEEN THE ROCKS, AWAY FROM THE &&..&.....
&.&&....&. BUSHWORK AND INTO THE CLEFT, THEY ARE &&&..&....
..&&&....& BLEEDING FROM A THOUSAND WOUNDS. AS &.&&..&...
..&.&&.... THEY DRINK FROM THE DARK WATER, IT IS ..&&&..&..
....&&&... IN TURN DRINKING THE ANIMALS BLOOD. ..&.&&..&.
....&.&&.. ....&&&..&
&.....&&&. THE CIRCLE IS COMPLETE, THE CONTRACT &...&.&&..
.&....&.&& CARRIED OUT; THE ANIMAL IS ABANDONED TO .&....&&&.
..&.....&& FIND ITS OWN WAY BACK. THE BUSHES ROOTS ..&...&.&&
&..&....&. DRINK THE NUTRUTIOUS WATER. THE FAIRIES ...&....&&
&&..&..... DANCE IN THE SUNBEAMS. &...&...&.
&&&..&.... .&...&....
&.&&..&... **************************************** ..&...&...
..&&&..&.. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ...&...&..
..&.&&..&. , , , , , , , , &...&...&.
....&&&..& . . . . . . &&...&...&
&...&.&&.. . . . &&&...&...
.&....&&&. &.&&...&..
..&...&.&& ..&&&...&.
...&....&& ..&.&&...&
&...&...&. ....&&&...
.&...&.... ....&.&&..