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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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