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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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