The laboratory

With a quick glance over her shoulder, the Creative Directory reached up to the top shelf of the bookcase, and her lithe fingers tipped the worn leather-bound copy of  The Naturalis of Alchemy forward. The bookcase silently swung open. She quickly stepped through and pulled it closed. Illuminated by naked incandescent bulbs hanging from the ceiling, the ancient gray stone stairs led downward towards a warm yellow light. She stepped out into the new lab. With an approving glance, she studied the new power tool workstations against the walls. Her eyes caught the motion of the automated gantry crane, sliding down its rails over the huge work table, gracefully braking exactly over the crucible. 

The new casting table was surrounded by rolling carts filled with instrumentation. Bright LED and digital displays flickered as the Technical Director's head popped up. "The programming is finished, and the silicon heaters are configured. I think were are ready for the first run," he said.  Her eyes spotted the electrical arcs climbing between the two wires next to an old fashion knife switch in the corner and raised an eyebrow.

 He reddened and bashfully shrugged. "It just didn't seem like a real laboratory if a Jacob's ladder wasn't in it. I passed on the oversized Telsa coil. 

She shook her head and gave him a wry grin. "Are we ready?"

"Yes, the crucible is loaded with 86.7 pounds and ready to go. You want to do the honors?

She took one more look around, thinking, "It took some time and patience, but we figured it out, and it was worth it. Six months of orders are now on the books." "Yes,"  she said, walking over to the burner's red start button and pressed it. Flames flared up under the crucible, and the airconditioning system sped up. "It's time we get down to bismuth," she said.