Labyrinth

Extrapolation

Ancient labyrinths dot the globe from the artic to the Mediterranean. Unlike a maze, whose object is to befuddle those going from Point A to Point B, the highly-stylized labyrinth loops one into the center, where there's no way out back. Labyrinths have long served as physical manifestations of metaphorical journeys wherein one returns from tribulations (or wanderings), bettered. Similar devices include Mt. Fuji, Dante's Inferno, and the Bath-Marie. Like the Bath-Marie, a labyrinth draws the impure into a central chamber, removes impurities, and expels the purified agent while containing the baser stuff.

TerraWee briefly sported an elaborate labyrinth named Saturn. Its concentric rings of shrubbery circled a deep sinkhole and Watchtowers orbited the outskirts. Art Doll pumped the sinkhole full of pancake batter, flash-fried the surface, and slathered it with gallons of butter. He intended to raise funds by selling off chunks at TerraWee's Solar Bakery, but an early winter storm turned his giant flapjack into an ice-skating rink. The unflappable Doll laughed. "What can I say? Saturn's cold."

Desiderata