%%%%%%%%
%%%% %%%%
%% %%
% %
% %
% THE GLASS FACTORY. %
% %
% %
%% %%
%%%% %%%%
%%%%%%%%
¨¨¨¨¨¨-»=% 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. @#£&%=»-¨¨
%%
%% %%
% %
%% %%
%%