It was a basement with its own basement，

    and in that basement were machines

    and dusty weapons， the engines of the house；

    where the floor gave way because of intense pressure

    from below， and magma boiled up

    through the wood-looking tiles；

    where to leap to safety

    broke my sister's foot；

    where the animals that weren't as smart as we

    were captured and admired；

    where we watched in horror as the ski lift

    lifted the men inexorably to death；

    it was my favorite room in the house.