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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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