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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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