"The Machine pried them all free and drained the flesh off the inner universe that lurked beneath."

"Each atom of that universe screamed in bestial agony as the world grew small and quiet, pulled from the stream of reincarnation and trembling like so many dying fish."

"As the mortal body fell to an unnatural living stillness, the mortal's very being found its new home: a red-hued orb, small enough to fit in a pocket."