R equals A.

Ah, welcome.

Mind your step.

We've had a bit of a landslide of new acquisitions this morning.

Mountains tend to do that, don't they?

Shift when you aren't looking.

Speaking of which, do come closer.

You've arrived just in time. Because today's piece, well, it concerns a place where looking is something of a problem.

Lot number 100.

A milestone, yes.

But more importantly, a map.

A simple folded, sun-faded tour guide, or so it first appeared when it came into my hands.

Yet you see here, the paper has swollen on this side, warped by moisture that should not exist.

And here, this blank shape?

That, I'm told, is where the lake should be.

The lake no one will admit is there.

The previous owner insisted I take it off his property immediately, said the blank space kept

getting bigger when he wasn't watching.

Yes, that does seem like the sort of thing you should know before I tell you its story.

This one's called The Lake.

Before we begin, I want to point out

some of the customers whose names

...