Balina Makes An Acquisition - Page 6

October 27th, still 155'

It's been almost a week now, and it's pretty clear that the ride’s finally over. I’m the same size I was yesterday, and the day before, and the day before. I am almost precisely one hundred and fifty five feet tall, a little over two dozen times my former height, and it looks like that’s where I’m going to stay.

I noticed today that the bell, tiny little thing it’s become, was covered in so much ice that it couldn’t even ring. Ever since I started growing, no matter how cold I got, it never had so much as a hint of frost on it. I guess whatever it was doing finally wore out, and now it’s just another pretty little piece of bronze. We’re going to put it on display in the lobby, as a symbol of the last six months, and I’ve got a couple of people checking the online auction scene for other antique bells to replace it. It’s become a part of my image, and I like having something normal-sized on me for scale. Besides, you never know; maybe this one has a twin somewhere.

The new support platforms are easily the best money I have ever spent on anything ever. We built these to last until I hit the 400’ range, so they’re unbelievably sturdy, and have a whole lot of extra adjustable platforms and cushions we’re never going to need. Around lunch time, one of the engineers, this shy-looking cougar who I think I remember from that incident last month, suggested we set up a couple of the seat

cushions at chest level, where I could just take a load off as I ate at my desk. Then she slowly eased the cushions down, keeping me supported as the swelling set in. I wish we’d thought of this ages ago; it was so comfortable that I ordered a second helping. Then a third. We got up to fifths before I finally had to force myself to stop. That little genius even thought to make the space and get my workstation within arm’s

reach. I got to spend the entire afternoon at my desk, more relaxed than I’ve been since I outgrew my favorite recliner, pumping as much milk in a day as I’d normally make in an entire week. I want that woman on the board, but she kept insisting she was happiest manning and maintaining the equipment.