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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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