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8
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DOORS
CRACKS
SIDEWALKS
INDUSTRIAL SHEDS
POLES
STREET PORTHOLES
OLD PAINT
WINDOWS
ABANDONED VEHICLES
BARRELS
MACHINERY
MANHOLES
UNDER YOUR NOSE
UNDER YOUR WHEELS
UNDER YOUR FEET
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A T A ////
9
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S T R A T A ////
10
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UNDER YOUR WHEELS
S T R A T A ////
11
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOO OOOOOO OOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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12
S T R A T A ////
13
L
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S T R A T A //// 14
EVERYONE’S MOTHER HAS TOLD THEM NOT TO WALK OVER METAL TRAPDOORS ON THE SIDEWALK. WHY?
S T R A T A //// 15
IS IT BECAUSE THE RUSTED METAL MIGHT COLLAPSE UNDER YOUR WEIGHT? MIGHT AN ABSENT MINDED BAR BACK WITH HIS HANDS FULL OF EMPTIES OPEN IT UNDER YOUR FEET? OR MAYBE SOMETHING FAR MORE SINISTER? HUNGRY MOLE PEOPLE LOOKING TO TRAP PLUMP INATTENTIVE KIDS FOR A MEAL?
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SECRET LAIR?
S
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A //// 17
DEADLY CULT?
BURIED MONEY?
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S T R A T A ////
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E
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MANHOLES
SOME ARE HIDDEN FROM YOU BUT FOR LITTLE DARK HOLES. OTHERS ARE GIVE YOU JUST ENOUGH OF A GLIMPSE TO REALIZE THERE ARE WONDERS DOWN THERE. GARDENS, POOLS, MAYBE EVEN A ZOO FOR THE ODDEST FORMS TO WALK THE EARTH. YOU MIGHT GET LUCKY AND GET A GLIMPSE WHEN ONE IS OPEN. USUALLY A MASS OF WIRES AND A LADDER LEADING DOWN. WHERE DOES IT GO? ARE THEY JUST FOYERS, MUDROOMS TO CLEAN OFF YOUR SHOES BEFORE YOU ENTER SOME ONE’S CAVERNOUS HOME? ASK THE BUTLER IF YOU CAN COME IN. HE’S THE ONE WEARING AN ORANGE VEST AND A HARD HAT. HE WILL NOT HESITATE TO SAY NO.
U
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20
E Y O N D T H E
MACHINERY
ON FORGOTTEN LOTS AND EVERY CORNER, THOSE RANDOM, IMPOSING MUNICIPAL UNITS SURE LOOK CURIOUS. WE AREN’T ALWAYS SURE WHAT THEY’RE FOR, LET ALONE WHAT COULD BE UNDER THEM. POWER STATION FOR THE WHOLE BLOCK OR AIR INTAKES FOR THE EARTH’S ROTATION? COMMERCIAL HVAC UNITS, OR EXHAUST FOR A SECRET VILLAIN’S LAIR?
O B V I O U S
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WARN
T R A T A ////
23
B
S
NR
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W
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R
Y
,
BARRELS
B
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A
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WHAT ON EARTH IS IN THESE THINGS? BARRELS REPRESENT ENDLESS POSSIBILITY, IF YOU’RE A GIANT GORILLA OR THINK BEST IN 44 GALLON INCREMENTS. APPLE JUICE, GASOLINE, QUICKSILVER, EARWAX, STOOL PIGEONS, FINGERNAILS, OR ALL THE MAYONNAISE ANYONE COULD EVER WANT.
B
?
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S T R A T A ////
25
ABANDONED VEHICLES
W
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D
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WE SEE THEM ALL THE TIME ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, WITH GREEN STICKERS ON THEIR WINDSHIELDS. ARE THEIR OWNERS JUST WALKING TO THE SERVICE STATION? OR ARE THEY RUNNING, LEAVING SOMETHING BEHIND? HOW ABOUT THE RANDOM RVS PARKED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. VAGRANT? METHLAB? OR TIME TRAVEL EXPERIMENT?
S T R A T A ////
26
WINDOWS
AH WINDOWS. BIG DEAL, YOU CAN JUST LOOK THROUGH THEM, RIGHT? BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LITTLE ONES ON THE TOP OF OLD HOUSES — TOO HIGH TO REACH, AND ALMOST ALWAYS COVERED WITH DRAPES AS ADDED PROTECTION. WHY ALL THE SECRECY? AND WHY WINDOWS ON ROOMS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLY SMALL, TOO SMALL TO HAVE A MAN — SIZED DOOR TO ENTER THEM? MAYBE THEY HIDE SOMETHING DARK; STIFLING ATTIC OUBLIETTES TO PUNISH NAUGHTY CHILDREN CENTURIES AGO. OR MAYBE, THEY LEAD TO OTHER HOUSES IN OTHER PLACES, THAT ARE MANY TIMES LARGER FROM THE INSIDE THAN THEY COULD EVER BE FROM THE OUTSIDE.
S T R A T A ////
CKS
27
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28
PAIN PAINT
S T R A T A ////
29
H O R I Z
NT
O N T A L
OLD PAINT
PAINT, OLD PAPER, AND LAYERS OF RUST. HOW FAR BACK CAN YOU GO? HOW MANY LAYERS CAN YOU PEEL AWAY AND WHAT WILL YOU FIND ALONG THE WAY? OLD CIRCUS POSTERS. ADS FOR SOMEONE’S LOST DOG. THE MOST ELEGANT ILLUSTRATION OF STRATA MIGHT BE THESE LAYERS OF WILLFUL AMNESIA. DON’T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU? COVER IT UP.
G E O L O G Y
S T R A T A //// 30
THE NEXT TIME YOU’RE STANDING ON A SUBWAY PLATFORM, ASK YOURSELF: WHAT’S REALLY UNDER YOUR FEET? TRASH? RATS? MAINTENANCE TOOLS?
S T R A T A //// 31
OR A DISUSED GILDED-AGE ORCHESTRA PIT FOR LONG DEAD MUSICIANS?
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32
UNDER THE TURF HERE.
S
S
T
R
A
T
A //// 33
BEHIND A WALL SOCKET IN HERE.
ON A ROOF THERE.
S T R A T A ////
34
STREET PORTHOLES C
A
S
T
I
THEY DOT THE URBAN LANDSCAPE LIKE MOLES ON AN OLD STARLET. EACH ONE IS MARKED WITH LOVING CARE. WHO SIGNED THEM? WHERE DO THEY LEAD? TO ENDLESS NARROW TUNNELS, SHAFTS THAT LEAD FOR LIFETIMES TO OTHER WORLDS OF UNTOLD WONDERS. IF ONLY YOU COULD FIT, YOU COULD SEE. OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO OPEN THEM FIRST.
R
O
N
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A
B
B
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A ////
35
?
SELOHT
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S T R A T A
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!iiii!!!!!!!!!!iii!!!!!!!!! !!!iiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!! ! ! ! ! i i ! i i ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I I I I I I I I I ////
36
POLES W
O
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S
T
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L
S T R A T A ////
37
POLES B
R
I
S
T
L
E
S
HOW FAR DOWN DO THEY GO? DO THEY CONTINUE ON THE OTHER SIDE? MAYBE THEY GO THROUGH THE EARTH AND COME OUT SOMEPLACE WHERE PEOPLE SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE ENTIRELY. PERHAPS THE CORE ISN’T MOLTEN ROCK, BUT A MASS OF HARD FIBER, A BALL OF STRING WHO’S STRAY ENDS POKE THROUGH THE CRUST LIKE THE SMALLEST HAIRS ON YOUR ARM.
S T R A T A //// 38
W N
INDUSTRIAL SHEDS
H U
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S R
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A
?
WE’VE ALL SEEN THEM BEFORE. SOLIDLY BUILT BUT TOTALLY NEGLECTED, NONDESCRIPT YET FESTOONED WITH SIGNS WARNING US TO KEEP OUT ON PAIN OF PROSECUTION. WHAT IS IN THESE ODD, LOCKED BUILDINGS? INDUSTRIAL SECRETS? STEAM AGE MACHINERY FROM A BUSINESSES’ SALAD YEARS? MAYBE INDUSTRIAL RECORDS WORTH MILLIONS TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. OR MAYBE IT’S SOMETHING FAR MORE USEFUL.. LIKE THE PERSONAL ORACLES OF SUCCESSFUL CEOS, KEPT PRISONER IN PLUSH BASEMENTS UNTIL NEEDED TO PROVIDE PREDICTIONS ABOUT STOCK MOVEMENTS.
S
T
R
A
T
A //// 39
T R A T A ////
40
PAI T
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OR MAYBE IT’S LINED WITH BRICKS OF SOLID AMERICAN GOLD, A DECENTRALIZED RESERVE, AND FORT KNOX IS JUST A RED HERRING.
M
SIDEWALKS
CUT IT FROM CURB TO CURB (THE CROSSWALK PROVIDES A DOTTED LINE) AND BEGIN TO ROLL IT BACK. WHAT DO YOU FIND? SURE THERE’S PROBABLY SEWERS DOWN THERE. AND WIRES, BUT THAT’S ALL DEEPER DOWN. BUT RIGHT BENEATH THE ASPHALT? IS IT CRAWLING WITH WORMS?
U
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A ////
41
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S T R A T A ////
42
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b r e a k y o u r c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s y m oo ut hr e r ms ob at c hk - s t e p o n a c r a b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t ma no dt hb re e ra sk y bo ua r c mk o t sh te re s p b a c a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s a n d b r e a s
b a c k s t e p s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k
o c b y
n a r a c k r e a k o u r y o
S T R A T A ////
43
s t e p o n a c r a c k a n sd t ber pe a k y o u r m o t h e r s ob an c k a s t e p o n ac rc ar ac c kk a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k a n d b r e a k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c yk os ut e r p om n o at hc r- a c k a n d b r e a k y o eu rr sm o bt ha e cr sk b sa ct k e sp t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e oa nk y ao u rc rm oa t ch ke r s b a s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p ao nn da cb r ra ce k a ak n d y bo r ue ar k my oo u tr h m eo rt hs e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e ab k a yc o ku r s m to et hp e r os nb a c k s t e p o n a a cc r aa c ck k a n ad n b dr e abk r ye o au rk m yo ot h ue r s mb ao c tk h s et er p s o nb aa c c kr a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s s bt a ec pk s ot en p oa n ca r c ar ac c kk a m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a b a c k s t e p o n ea r cs r a bc k a ac nk d bs r t e ea kp y oo un r ma o t ch re ra s c bk a c ak ns dt e p b or ne aa kc r ay c ok u a rn d mb or et a hk e y ro su r bm ao tc h ke r ss tb ae c pk so t ne p ao n c a r ca r ca ck k aa nn d d b rbe ra ke ay ok u c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r es r b sa c kb as tc e kp os n t ae pc r aoc nk a an d c b rr ea a ck k y o au nr dm o bt h r e er sa kb a cy k o sut re p mo no ta h c er ar c s k ab n ad c b kr e as k t ey op u r o mn o t ha e r cs r b aa cc kk s ta e np d o n b ar ec ra a kc k y a on e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c k s t e p o n o a n c ra a c k a n d b r e a ck r y ao cu r k m ao tnh de r s b br ae c ak k s t ey p o ou nr a mc or a t c hk e a rn sd b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h be rr y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t se ptb eao cnp k a so tcner pa caok n ca anr d ac rbca r kce ka kaa nny dod u b r rb emra oek t ahy eko ru s r y bmoa ouc t krh es rmt se op b tao hcn ke a rs tsc er pa bc ka ca nk d o snb rt aee a cpk r ay oco knu r a nam d o tcb hrree ara sck kby ao c au k r n smdt oe tpbh reo rne s aa bk ac cr yka cosk ut ear pn d mo nb or aet ahck re ayrco sku r a bnm ad o c s t e p o n y oa u r c mr o at hc ekr s a b na cd k bs t r e ep a o kn ay oc rua rc k ma no d t bh r ee ra ks b a c k s t e p o n y oau r c mr o at hc e kr s a b na cd k bs t r e ep a o kn ay oc r ua rc k ma no d t bh r ee ra ks y bo ua r c mk o t sh o n a c r a bc a kc k a s nt ed p ob nr ea a c kr a c yk o a un rd bmr eo a tk h y eo ru rs b a c k s t e p o n a cm ro ta h ce rk s ab an c dk s bt er pe ao nk a y c or au c r k amn od t b hr ee a rk s y o bu ar cm ko b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k c sr a t c ek p a n od nb r ea a k c yr o au cr km o at hn e dr s bb ar ce k a y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t oe n p a oc nr a c ak ac n rd a b cr ke a k a yn o du r b m ro y o u r m o t hb ea cr k s s btbre eap a cko kn y oasu trc rema poc kt hoae c r a c k a n d b b ra ec ka ks t e yp o o m o t h e r s b ca r ca ck k
c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p
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b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m t e p o n a c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s c r a c k a n d b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e b r e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k a n d e a k y o u r m o t h e r s b a c k s t e p o n a c r a c k
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LIKE GIANT — OR TINY — SEAMS CRISSCROSSING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THESE MICROCOSMIC CANYONS OF THE CITY SURELY HIDE SOMETHING SPECIAL. LIKE A PERFORATION LINE ON A BISCUIT, THIS IS WHERE THE WORLD WAS DESIGNED TO BREAK APART. OR PERHAPS, LIKE PUZZLE PIECES, OR DOORS ON AN ADVENT CALENDAR, THEY ARE SECTIONS SOMEBODY IS SUPPOSED TO REMOVE. TO REVEAL SOMETHING SPECIAL? OR TO REASSEMBLE INTO SOMETHING EVEN GREATER?
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AS SIMPLE AS IT GETS. WANT PRIVACY, GET A DOOR — EVEN IF JUST A ROCK ROLLED ACROSS THE ENTRANCE OF YOUR CAVE IN THE FRENCH ALPS. BUT HOW MANY DOORS IS ENOUGH? MAYBE THAT OLD HOUSE ON THE CORNER IS SIMPLY FILLED FROM FRONT TO BACK WITH DOORS — OPEN ONE, IT LEADS TO ANOTHER, AD INFINITUM. OF COURSE, EACH ONE NEEDS A SEPARATE KEY.
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WHAT SECRETS ARE UNDER YOU?
WHAT’S DOWN THERE, ANYWAY? WHEN YOU ASK SOMEONE TO NAME THINGS THEY’LL PROBABLY NEVER SEE IN THEIR LIFE TIME, MOST PEOPLE THINK OF EXCITING PLACES FAR AWAY. BUT THERE’S PLENTY TO BE UTTERLY IGNORANT ABOUT WITHIN JUST A FEW BLOCKS OF YOUR HOUSE. EVER WALKED DOWN A STREET IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, GAZING AT THE STRUCTURES AND OBJECTS YOU’VE SEEN FOR YEARS, AND REALIZE YOU PROBABLY WON’T EVER GET TO SEE THE INSIDE, BEHIND, OR UNDERNEATH THEM? YOU CAN KNOW EVERY BRICK, EVERY STONE, MAYBE CATCH A GLIMPSE THROUGH A WINDOW, BUT THE TRUTH IS, YOU’RE UNLIKELY TO GET THE FULL PICTURE. EVER. WHAT’S REALLY UNDER THAT MANHOLE? OR THE SIDEWALK? WHAT DOES A TELEPHONE POLE LOOK LIKE FROM DIRECTLY BENEATH IT? STRATA EXAMINES UNKNOWNS THAT ARE WITHIN ARMS REACH, BUT ALWAYS WORLDS AWAY FROM US.