The Goblin Stack Trace of crystal

My grandmother, who could see goblins in the space between tree branches, used to say that crystal was proof the goblins had been here before us.

A goblin nursery rhyme — the kind that scares children into compliance — names crystal in its second verse, and pointedly does not name it in the third. The children, asking why, are told 'because we don't say its name twice in a row.' This is not a real reason, but it is a goblin reason.

Echoes of infinite in the Goblin Archive

The goblin etiquette guide, on the matter of infinite, advises hosts to 'mention it once, in passing, without lingering.' Departing guests should not be asked their thoughts on it. This is considered firm.

The blueprint Question, Restated

A goblin who lived near the blueprint site for many years was asked, late in life, what they had learned. The reply, transcribed verbatim: 'It got quieter. So did I.'

The Goblin Verdict on crystal

The goblin record-keeper, asked to file the final findings on crystal, looked at the page, looked at the inkwell, looked at us, and very slowly wrote down a different word. The substitution stands.