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* THE GLASS FACTORY. *
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¨¨-»/**&#@ SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ AND A GIFT SHOP. @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& CONSIDERED POOR. &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# SOME ARE SHATTERED. #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ ** @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# ** ** #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ »»»»»»» * * »»»»»»» @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# ** ** #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& ** &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ LIT FROM BEHIND. @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ ** @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# ** ** #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& »»»»»»» * * »»»»»»» &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** ** ** **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& ** &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# FLOOR. #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# BECOME STILL. #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# ** #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ ** ** @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# »»»»»»» * * »»»»»»» #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& ** ** &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** ** **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER @#&**/»-¨¨
¨-»/**&#@# THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK #@#&**/»-¨
¨¨-»/**&#@ GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND @#&**/»-¨¨
¨¨¨-»/**&# I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE #&**/»-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? &**/»-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-»/** **/»-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-»/**& I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. &**/»-¨¨¨¨
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