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I traveled to the province of staircases. The great variety of

balusters, railing, finials and steps filled me with awe. Many

looked welcoming, while others were intentionally obscured or

blocked up, and some were decorated with vibrant warnings to

anyone who might ascend. I found the most modern looking

staircase and climbed. After a while, I stopped on a landing to

rest. This extraordinary landing was home to dozens of living

statues, obsequious stone gods begging for spare hands. As I

explored, a loud commotion with historic consequences occurred

somewhere behind me. When I looked back, there was a curtain

drawn around the event. I turned to the statues for answers, but

they remained inert and silent, their jagged stumps eager for

relief