###§¤$=~-, ,-~=$¤§###
§§¤$==---, ,---==$¤§§
§$=~--,,,, ,,,,--~=$§
###§¤$=~-, ,-~=$¤§###
###§¤$=~-, ,-~=$¤§###
###§¤$=~-, orange-clad train-climber crew, moving ,-~=$¤§###
#§$~~-,,,, along the rusty cargo cars like some ,,,,-~~$§#
###§¤$=~-, species of ferrophage insect. up and ,-~=$¤§###
####¤$=~-, down the train, checking bolts, oiling ,-~=$¤####
###§¤$=~-, joints, drinking coffee, smoking ,-~=$¤§###
#§§$=-,,,, cigarettes. ,,,,-=$§§#
#§¤$~,,,,, ,,,,,~$¤§#
###§¤$=~-, ############################## ,-~=$¤§###
##§$$$=~-, ,-~=$$$§##
###§¤$=~-, we were going south through finland at ,-~=$¤§###
§$~,,,,,,, the time, sleeping close to the ,,,,,,,~$§
###§¤$=~-, furnace, watching the aurora borealis. ,-~=$¤§###
§§§§¤$=~-, twenty-something members of the crew, ,-~=$¤§§§§
###§¤$=~-, most of which were mechanics, or ,-~=$¤§###
#§§¤$~-,,, loaders, with large and hairy hands ,,,-~$¤§§#
###§¤$=~-, that could swallow my entire body. and ,-~=$¤§###
§$~-,,,,,, me featuring as the cute and asocial ,,,,,,-~$§
§$$=-,,,,, radio operator, stationed in the back ,,,,,-=$$§
###§¤$=~-, of the kilometer-long train, which ,-~=$¤§###
###§¤$=~-, served me good and well. ,-~=$¤§###
###§¤$=~-, ,-~=$¤§###
###§¤$=~-, and then one night, there's a missile. ,-~=$¤§###
#¤¤=-,,,,, 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 ,-~=¤§####
###§¤$=~-, karl puts down the headphones and slaps ,-~=$¤§###
###§¤$=~-, me on my back. "allright boy. i just ,-~=$¤§###
###§¤$=~-, sold a missile." he practically beams ,-~=$¤§###
###§¤$=~-, at me, teeth filed sharp. "wanna make a ,-~=$¤§###
###§¤$=~-, detour?" ,-~=$¤§###
##¤¤$==~-, ,-~==$¤¤##
##¤¤==-,,, ,,,-==¤¤##
###§¤$=~-, ,-~=$¤§###
###§¤$=~-, ,-~=$¤§###
#§§§¤$=~-, ,-~=$¤§§§#