********
**** ****
** **
* *
* *
* THE GLASS FACTORY. *
* *
* *
** **
**** ****
********
¨¨¨.«**$&@ SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST @&$**«.¨¨¨
¨¨.«**$&@# BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO #@&$**«.¨¨
¨.«**$&@## THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY ##@&$**«.¨
¨¨.«**$&@# NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES #@&$**«.¨¨
¨¨¨.«**$&@ SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN @&$**«.¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨.«**$& STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. &$**«.¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨.«**$ 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. @&$**«.¨¨¨
**
** **
* *
** **
**