††††††††
†††† ††††
†† ††
† †
† †
† 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. @@#&†^-:,,
††
†† ††
† †
†† ††
††