@hash2_guts = (  # scalar(%hash2) is now 7/16
   [ $node1 ],
   undef,
   [ $node2 ],
   undef,
   [ $node3 ],
   undef,
   [ $node4, $node5 ],
   undef,
   [ $node6 ],
   undef,
   undef,
   undef,
   undef,
   [ $node8 ],
   [ $node7 ],
   undef,
);