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The first time Daventree left his own level, he took only two steps from the lift before panic struck, and he leaned against the wall, short of breath and sweating profusely. It took all his energy to return to the security of the lift.
Yanthi told him it would get easier. He knew she spoke the truth, just as he trusted her when she said he wouldn’t arouse any suspicions. After all, hadn’t Machivelle suggested he explore the Factory for himself? He didn’t want to disappoint the boss, surely.
This wasn’t only about his work, though. Daventree had an ulterior motive. In his investigations of the virtual Factory, he’d discovered points where the larger branches of the air-duct system were accessible, presumably for maintenance and repairs. Some were small, but on the level above
