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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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