@&*%/~-... ...-~/%*&@
@@&*%/~-.. ..-~/%*&@@
#@@&*%/~-. .-~/%*&@@#
@@&*%/~-.. ..-~/%*&@@
@&*%/~-... ...-~/%*&@
&*%/~-.... Orange-Clad Train-Climber Crew, Moving ....-~/%*&
*%/~-..... Along The Rusty Cargo Cars Like Some .....-~/%*
%/~-...... Species Of Ferrophage Insect. Up And ......-~/%
/~-....... Down The Train, Checking Bolts, Oiling .......-~/
~-........ Joints, Drinking Coffee, Smoking ........-~
-......... Cigarettes. .........-
.......... ..........
-......... @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ .........-
~-........ ........-~
/~-....... We Were Going South Through Finland At .......-~/
%/~-...... The Time, Sleeping Close To The ......-~/%
*%/~-..... Furnace, Watching The Aurora borealis. .....-~/%*
&*%/~-.... Twenty-Something Members Of The Crew, ....-~/%*&
@&*%/~-... Most Of Which Were Mechanics, Or ...-~/%*&@
@@&*%/~-.. Loaders, With Large And Hairy Hands ..-~/%*&@@
#@@&*%/~-. That Could Swallow My Entire Body. And .-~/%*&@@#
@@&*%/~-.. Me Featuring As The Cute And Asocial ..-~/%*&@@
@&*%/~-... Radio Operator, Stationed In The Back ...-~/%*&@
&*%/~-.... Of The Kilometer-Long Train, Which ....-~/%*&
*%/~-..... Served Me Good And Well. .....-~/%*
%/~-...... ......-~/%
/~-....... And Then One Night, There'S A Missile. .......-~/
~-........ We Would Routinely Pick Up New Cars At ........-~
-......... The Tail, And Drop Some Off, As A Way .........-
.......... Of Earning Some Extra Money. But A ..........
-......... Missile, And Appearing Silently In The .........-
~-........ Middle Of The Night At That? Not ........-~
/~-....... Entirely... Comfortable. .......-~/
%/~-...... ......-~/%
*%/~-..... I Call It In On The Walkie-Talkie. Not .....-~/%*
&*%/~-.... Many Others Awake, They Know Nothing ....-~/%*&
@&*%/~-... About It, And Appear Concerned As Well. ...-~/%*&@
@@&*%/~-.. ..-~/%*&@@
#@@&*%/~-. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ .-~/%*&@@#
@@&*%/~-.. ..-~/%*&@@
@&*%/~-... When I Fall Awake In The Afternoon, ...-~/%*&@
&*%/~-.... Karl Is There, Smiling At Me. "Hey ....-~/%*&
*%/~-..... Boy," He Says, "Wanna Help Me Make A .....-~/%*
%/~-...... Call?" ......-~/%
/~-....... .......-~/
~-........ After He'S Brought Me Coffee, I Dial ........-~
-......... The Frequency From His Notebook, And .........-
.......... After A While There'S A Reply In ..........
-......... Pan-Slavic. Karl Laughs And Makes A .........-
~-........ Reply In The Same Language. Even Though ........-~
/~-....... We Both Have Headphones I Can'T Follow .......-~/
%/~-...... At All, But I Hear The Word "Missile" A ......-~/%
*%/~-..... Few Times. .....-~/%*
&*%/~-.... ....-~/%*&
@&*%/~-... I'M Almost Snoozing Again At The Time ...-~/%*&@
@@&*%/~-.. Karl Puts Down The Headphones And Slaps ..-~/%*&@@
#@@&*%/~-. Me On My Back. "Allright Boy. I Just .-~/%*&@@#
@@&*%/~-.. Sold A Missile." He Practically Beams ..-~/%*&@@
@&*%/~-... At Me, Teeth Filed Sharp. "Wanna Make A ...-~/%*&@
&*%/~-.... Detour?" ....-~/%*&
*%/~-..... .....-~/%*
%/~-...... ......-~/%
/~-....... .......-~/
~-........ ........-~
-......... .........-