The next morning, after breakfast, a meeting was held in the council chamber. About thirty beasts attended, including the specific persons Chumley had asked Deerdor to invite. After apprising everyone present about the events at Seth-e-Raman as well as those on Xenoth, Chumley introduced Herman.

The big hedgehog stood nervously and faced the table.
"Good day ta all ya fine beasts, my name is Herman Corkspike and I be a gaffer, a worker o' glass. That wizard feller, Vattus, has asked me ta make something what ain't never been made before, a glass tank what can hold the...Asheroumajig...," gasps emanated from the table, the hedgehog continued, "mah pal Chumley tells me I can count on you guys ta give me the help I needs, so I'll be tellin' you what that might be. I plans on moldin' all five pieces of the glass at the same time, so first off I needs ta know if'n you fellers can build a furnace hot enough ta melt glass that's a hundred-twenty feet long and fifty feet wide... can ya do that?"

An old ferret named Bemar stood, he was the head of the metal-workers guild in Thoth.
"That's a mighty big furnace, but we got our works outside of Thoth on the Flamin' Fissure, it's a long crack in the earth that descends into the pits of this world, full of melted rock. It's what we uses to melt the iron, we could funnel enough of the heat into an oven that size, no problem. It'd be more'n hot enough to melt your glass. 'Course the furnace gotta be built first."

Orgor, the stoat head of the stonemasons called out.
"We kin build it fer ya in a week."

Herman clapped his paws.
"Marveylous! Can ye get me a ton o' tin, I'll be needin' it ta float the glass?"

Bemar answered.
"We got ten times that much, use it in all sorts of ways. Anything else?

Herman was feeling more comfortable now, seeing the respect he was being accorded.
"We'll need plenty of sand and cullet, that would be broken glass and the like."

Orgor replied that that too, was easily achievable. Herman listed the other ingredients required and each time was greeted with an affirmative response.

He went silent in thought for a bit and then continued.
"I guess what's left is fer me ta give mister Orgor a drawin' of the furnace he'll be a buildin'...and then we gots ta wait fer Arisha's web ta mix into the glass. I sure wish we could test it and see if'n it'll work, seems a shame ta put all you fellers ta work afore we even know how the glass'll fare."

Chumley who was sitting next to Herman reached into the breast pocket of the vest he was wearing and pulled out a necklace which held an Asherouboros tooth like that which Egbert wore. He removed the tooth from the narrow strand which held it and handed the string to Herman.
" 'Ere's a piece of  'er web, is it enough for you to make a small test batch?"

The hedgehog held the delicate strand of web and examined it.
"I'll give her a go, should know before night falls."

Deedor rose and addressed the group.
"Don't wait for the results, it's not like we have a backup plan. Everyone gather what you need to proceed. Mister Corkspike will provide the plans for the furnace before days end, we need to move as quickly as possible."

Everyone present nodded in assent and then exited the room. Only the hedgehogs, Chumley, and Deerdor remained behind. Chumley sighed.
"I 'ope this works. Do ya think we could use a metal tank if the glass isn't strong enough?"

Deedor shook his head.
"The water in the Circe sea is pretty much an acid, it'll eat through metal in a couple of days at the most. I'm afraid it's the glass or nothing.

Herman looked down at Winnie and patted him on the head.
"In that case, I reckon we got's to make glass like we never made it before, ain't that right, brother?"

Winnie grinned broadly.
"The best glass ever by the best two gaffers ever!" he said enthusiastically.

It took Herman only a short time to sketch out his plans for the elongated furnace he envisioned to produce the large panes of glass. He gave the quickly drawn plans to Orgor, who had been waiting anxiously. The stonemason examined the rough blueprints and nodded approvingly. He smiled.
"This can be done. It's a low structure, I see...arched roof, that will be a challenge. Where is the access to the interior?"

Herman pointed to his plans.
"I figger we'll only be a doin' this once, that's why I'm gonna make all five sheets o' glass at the same time. We're gonna dig the five molds right into the ground and put the tin in them. You build the furnace around the prepared ground and we feed the molten glass down these five holes after the tin is melted, then we plug the holes, 'ceptin' these two on the sides. Them holes is fer lookin' in ta make sure alls goin well. When it's set, we let 'er cool and take the furnace apart to take out the glass."

"Clever," Orgor commented, "how are you going to put the panes together so that they'll hold the weight of all that water."

"Kinda depends on the glass...if I can fuse it or if'n we need to build a frame which'll hold 'er firm without touchin' that acid water. I ain't never made no spider glass afore...don't know it can be done. I'm headin' to the smithy now to try and make a test batch with Winnie, usin' that piece of web what Chumley gave me."

Orgor thrust out his paw and Herman shook it. The stoat gave the hedgehog a warm smile.
"I wish you luck. I will begin getting the materials ready to build the furnace and a crew of my masons to construct it. We'll wait for you to lay out the interior before we start building her up."

"We'll know soon enough," Herman said, "I'll see ya down at the site one way or another."

Herman made his way to the castle blacksmith where Winnie was waiting for him. On his way he stopped in the kitchens and picked up a small pressure cooker, which he brought along. When he entered the small hot room, he saw that Winnie was busy stoking the glowing fire and positioning a set of bellows. At the base of the hearth, a stone cauldron containing several pounds of broken glass, secured from the trash heaps, lay ready to be put into the fire. Winnie looked at the odd metal pot Herman carried. It had a metal top which could be secured tightly with screws to its main body.

"What's that Hermie?" the young hedgehog asked.

Herman chuckled.
"I ain't never seen one afore either, Winnie. We needs it to work the web. Robbi told me how the moles use the web...get it into the metal they makes. Seems the web ain't affected much by fire, don't get hot, even if'n you stick it right into the flames. She said they kinda melts it in water...really hot water, a lot hotter'n your plain old boilin' water. It turns into a syrup what the moles then add to the steel. I hopin' ta do the same. This here gizmo lets the water get super hot or so I'm told. We'll see soon enough." He pointed to the container of glass, "get that stuff a meltin', my fine gaffer."

"Will do, Hermie!" Winnie said enthusiastically. He took a long set of tongs and placed the stone cauldron deep into the forge. He began pumping the bellows rhythmically, stoking the flames to ever higher heat.

While Winnie worked the bellows, Herman poured a gallon of water into the cooker and then added the small strand of Arisha's web. He secured the top tightly, torquing the screws as tight as his great strength could. When he was satisfied, he used the tongs to place the cooker near the glass in a slightly cooler portion of the furnace.

"How long you gonna cook that soup, Hermie?"

"Till it's done, I reckon, and afore the pot blows up or melts. I figger we'll give 'er about ten minutes or so," he made a stern face at his brother, "so keep pumpin' me fine hog or it's no supper for you."

"Slave-driver!" Winnie giggled.

After watching the forge carefully for several minutes, Herman noticed the pressure cooker turning a warm orange color. It began to rattle and appeared to swell slightly. Quickly, the large hedgehog retrieved it from the flames with his tongs and carefully carried it to a large barrel of water.

"Careful, Winnie, watch yer eyes," he warned. Turning his head to the side he dropped the red-hot pot into the water. A violent burst of steam and hot water shot out of the barrel. A minute later, Herman reached in and gingerly removed the still hot but manageable container. He placed it on the ground and using a mallet and chisel, knocked the retaining screws off. He carefully removed the lid and looked inside. To the hedgehog's delight, what had once been a gallon of water and a small piece of web was now a gelatinous glowing mass. Picking up a long poker, he inserted it into the jelly and gathered it like taffy around the shaft. He continued to rotate the poker to keep the jelly from dripping off and moved carefully to the hearth.

He extended the poker into the fire over the cauldron containing the now melted glass. Herman scraped as much of the jelly into the molten glass as he could. Using the tongs to draw the kettle to the edge of the fire, the hedgehog inserted a shorter poker into it, swirling and lifting the glass to mix it with the web jelly.

He moved the cauldron back to the highest heat portion of the forge and waited. Finally, when the hedgehog was satisfied he removed the kettle, tipped it over and anchored the poker deep into the dense glob of melted glass. He tugged and twisted the metal rod, pulling a long, pinky-wide ribbon of glass from the kettle. It stretched about ten feet and he cut the still soft material from the pot with a pair of shears. Winnie walked over and sat next to his brother.

"Did it work?" Winnie asked excitedly.

"Don't rightly know yet, gotta let it cool. Leastways it appears the web mixed in fine," he stared at the thin, long, cooling rod, "We'll know soon enough."

Chumley, Belinda, and Dema sat around a small table in the old toad's quarters eating an early supper. Chumley, concerned and preoccupied with the day's events, barely picked at his food. Belinda on the other hand was shoveling the fare into her mouth at an impressive rate.

Chumley looked at her and laughed.
"A bit peckish, are we love?" he asked.

"You think I'm making a pig out of myself?" Belinda asked sharply.

Chumley was taken aback by her tone and quickly became apologetic.
"Just jokin' darlin', ah didn't mean nuthin by it."

Tears began to stream down Belinda's face.
"You're right!" she blubbered, "I'm a glutton. I'm horrible. I don't know why you stay with me."

Chumley was now in complete defensive mode, trying to calm his beloved wife.
"You're just hungry is all. Ah'd be eatin' twice what you are if ah wasn't so knotted up by this 'ole glass thing. Ah'm sorry ah upset you love. Go on, dig in, it's good for you."

Belinda's tone changed almost immediately. She got up and cradled Chumley's head in her bosom.
"You're the sweetest creature on this planet, love...," the tears returned, "...I...I...I don't deserve you!" she rushed out of the room leaving a befuddled Chumley staring wide-eyed at Dema.

" 'As she been drinkin' Dema?"

Dema shook her head slowly.
"You can be such an idiot Chumley Bilgespike! How dense can one creature be?"

" 'Ave you 'ad a few too many as well. What did ah do? Ah was just eatin' dinner."

"Blind, blind, blind, and a fool to boot. Men! Ha, what a waste of flesh and bone. She's not drunk and neither am I, if anyone at this table is impaired, it's you!"

Completely confused, Chumley was searching for a response when a loud knock echoed from the door and Herman rushed in with Winnie at his side. He was holding the ten-foot long thin rod of glass. Taking advantage of the diversion, the rat stood and walked over to the hedgehog. He looked at the pencil-thin rod.
"Is that it then? Looks like plain old glass to me, don't it?"

Herman was grinning broadly.
"Watch!" he said loudly. He positioned two chairs about ten feet apart and placed the rod suspended between them. Chumley watched with interest. Without further ado, The huge hedgehog made a surprisingly agile leap onto the narrow glass. It held firm, barely dipping. He sat on it and Winnie joined him. Chumley walked over with an excited look on his face and sat next to the two hedgehogs on the glass.

"It works!" Herman shouted, "Strongest glass I ever seen. I think the plan might work."

Chumley patted Herman lustily on the back, injuring his paw on the hedgehog's spikes in the process. He ignored the pain.
"You are a genius, mah friend. I bow to yer mastery o' glass, I do."

"I told you we was the best." Winnie added.

"And indeed you are," Chumley agreed.

Dema, who had been watching the demonstration intently, chuckled.
"Boys and their toys, it's a wonder you make it to adulthood."