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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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