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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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