The way I finally got A&L to do "linked chains", with the help of the Computer
Support Corp (Arts & Letters) tech support folks, was this:
1. draw an ellipse
2. Where the other "link" would "cut thru" the first, put two new handles.
Then stretch this little cut segment IN and add more handles (I found I needed
6 total) and make it into the "inner ellipse". (I found it easiest to draw a
REAL ellipse, then use the Bezier handles to make the 'home made' ellipse
conform).
Can Illustrator/PC do this more easily? P.S. to draw the WHOLE 3-link
chain, I'd make a copy of the left link with its cut-out, flip it
left-right and use it for the right link, then I'd make a copy, and make
ANOTHER cut in it, for the middle link. I'd then need perhaps 10 (ugh!)
"shadow pieces" to add the 3D effect. NOT SIMPLE!