The Three Furies (Erec Rex) by Kaza Kingsley

of cloud extended high into the sky and ran in both directions as far as the eye could see. White vapors swirled within it, but they did not float away.
    "Can people walk through the Citadel of Clouds?"
    "No, young sir. You go through passageways, but those have checkpoints. Buses can go through, and people with permits. Otherwise it's impenetrable."
    Unlike its name, the Magnet Mountain looked like a skinny, rundown factory with tarry blue-black smoke sputtering from several chimneys. Tall doors filled a narrow arch at the front. Erec glanced at Jam hopefully, then pulled one of the heavy, creaky doors open.
    A rancid odor rose to meet them as they walked into the dimly lit front room. People walked past, carrying boxes on their backs and chests. One of them spit on the floor when he saw Erec, then walked on.
    "Do you think he knows who I am?" Erec said.
    "I doubt it, young sir. Probably just his way of saying hello."
    Their eyes adjusted to the dark interior of the factory. Boxes were stacked on shelves that seemed to stretch up to the tall ceilings. This appeared to be the warehouse part of the building. Erec guessed the magnets were made in the back.
    They wandered around until Jam pointed at an open door leading into a brighter lit room. At first Erec was relieved to hear voices coming from the room, but when he got closer he was sorry that he did. Someone was getting fired, or at least screamed at for doing something wrong.
    Erec peeked into the open doorway and saw a small man shaped like a jiggly beach ball with stick limbs and a sour face screaming at a filthy factory worker.
    "And that wasn't all, was it? I told you never to bring the magnet
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    magnets into the storage rooms. How many times did I tell you, Billy? How many? More than the number of brain cells in that stupid head of yours. Of course that's not too many at all, is it? Since the day I brought your sorry hide into my factory, I've been telling you that the magnet magnets can never come in here. They go straight into their silver cases. And what do you do the minute I step away for one second? You bring a box of them in here.
    "Now maybe you finally understand why you need to listen to me. You made a huge mess. All of our new assortments flew straight into the magnet magnets. Brilliant. You think I'm going to pay to clean up this mess? To order and replace all these mixed-up magnets? Oh, no, Billy. Your pay is being docked. You'll have to work for free for five months to make up what you owe now."
    "B-but I can't afford that," Billy stammered.
    "You know my friends on the street?" The short man kicked his feet up onto his desk. "Unless you want to get to know them better, you'll shut up and do what I say. Now get out of here." He spit over his shoulder.
    Billy, tears in his eyes, shoved past Erec, almost knocking him over. Once he was gone, the short man at the desk noticed the newcomers. His eyes narrowed. "Get in here, you two. And who would you be?"
    Jam elbowed Erec's side in warning, but the last thing Erec was going to do was tell this guy his real name. He would probably call for Baskania in a heartbeat if he thought he could collect a reward for catching Erec Rex. "Just shoppers," he said. "Do you have any really strong magnets?"
    The man relaxed in his chair. A sick grin spread over his face like an infection. "You've come to the right place. We don't usually get customers in the factory. You can find our deluxe magnets in many fine stores. But I'm happy to help you right here." He rubbed
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    his hands together. "Any certain type of magnet you'd like?"
    "Well . . ." Erec wasn't sure how to explain, as the clue did not make sense to him. "I'd be curious if you had any people magnets. To attract people. Or if you know a man that has one."
    "I see." The man's grin grew until his pointed teeth showed. "You want to attract a certain person, eh? A girl, maybe? Or is it a lost friend? An enemy?
    No, Erec thought. I don't want to attract someone with