###§%*†~:. .:~†*%§###
§*~:...... ......:~*§
##§§%*†~:. .:~†*%§§##
#§****†~:. .:~†****§#
###§%*†~:. .:~†*%§###
###§%*†~:. 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?" .:~†*%§###
#§%*†~::.. ..::~†*%§#
#§§§%*†~:. .:~†*%§§§#
§%*†::.... ....::†*%§
#%*††††~:. .:~††††*%#
###§%*†~:. .:~†*%§###