Summary

Ben goes to the Lift office to examine the copies of the magazine containing his article: however, he discovers that his story has been replaced with an article about Christmas decorating. He walks outside to call his editor when he is forced into a car by Jim and John and asked if he knows what happens to people who anger Johnny Shush. John accuses Ben of lying while Jim breaks each of his fingers.

The next section is a flashback to the first safe elevator demonstration at the city’s Great Hall during the Exhibition of 1853, an event in which inventors present their new products. Elisha Otis shocks and amazes the initially skeptical crowd by standing in an elevator and cutting the rope to allow the safety mechanism to act.

The next section returns to Ben Urich, who has been extensively tortured by...