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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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