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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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