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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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