Slowpoke Well

The well Azalea drew its water from for generations, now taken over by people in black uniforms carrying saws. They cut Slowpoke tails off and sell them by weight, and the Slowpoke — who understand neither hurry nor pain at everyone else's speed — go on sitting there while it happens. The shaft goes down, the water comes up, and the echo returns the sound of the saws two seconds late.