####*%=-,. .,-=%*####
###**%=-,. .,-=%**###
##*%-,,,,. .,,,,-%*##
###**%=-,. .,-=%**###
#*==-..... .....-==*#
#####*=-,. ######################################## .,-=*#####
####*%=-,. # autonomous railmakers will notice # .,-=%*####
##*=,,.... # wildlife in their path and stop, # ....,,=*##
#*=-...... ######################################## ......-=*#
#%---,,... sound a horn, nudge the animal a ...,,---%#
###**%=-,. little, but ultimately wait it out. .,-=%**###
#%%%-..... although they will log video, no call .....-%%%#
####*%=-,. will be made for any outside .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. assistance. this is very good. .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. the railmakers are siemens-manufactured .,-=%*####
#*=,,..... brick-like things. fields of gray and .....,,=*#
####*%=-,. teal, floodlights, thrumming and .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. hissing. trilling to each other, like .,-=%*####
##***%=-,. language. and here, three of them, .,-=%***##
####*%=-,. slowly making their way through the .,-=%*####
#%=,,..... dense forest. .....,,=%#
####*%=-,. .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. i'm coming up on them from behind and .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. to the left, hidden behind the thick .,-=%*####
###%==,... foliage. their light finds the gaps ...,==%###
#*=-,..... between the leaves, casting rays .....,-=*#
#####%=-,. through the wet air, playing over my .,-=%#####
#%=-,,.... face and arms, and my weapon. i quickly ....,,-=%#
####*%=-,. overtake them, crouch in the ditch made .,-=%*####
##%--,,,,. by the preprocessor, and watch. one of .,,,,--%##
#*=,...... them is already a bit behind the ......,=*#
####*%=-,. others. it will be my target. .,-=%*####
#*==,,.... ....,,==*#
####*%=-,. just as the light of the leading two is .,-=%*####
#####*=-,. dimming, i deploy the rabbits, throwing .,-=*#####
####*%=-,. them in the path of my prey. the .,-=%*####
#%%%==,... creatures are yet alive, but maimed so ...,==%%%#
#***%%=-,. as to be unable to move - they will .,-=%%***#
####*%=-,. stay in the path of the railmaker, .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. forcing it to pause, further separating .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. it from its two friends. .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. ######################################## .,-=%*####
#%%-...... # another thing about the machines: # ......-%%#
#####%=-,. # there's flesh inside them. ########### .,-=%#####
#*==---... ############################## not meat, ...---==*#
####*%=-,. but something like a liver, that will .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. keep the railmakers internal chemistry .,-=%*####
##*%=,.... well away from their various exhausts. ....,=%*##
#%=,...... ......,=%#
####*%=-,. a liver that, as long as you manage to .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. keep it alive, can clean the creek .,-=%*####
####*%=-,. water enough for it to be drinkable. .,-=%*####
##%=,,.... ....,,=%##
####*%=-,. which is why i'm here. .,-=%*####
##%=,..... .....,=%##
####*%=-,. .,-=%*####
#*%==-.... ....-==%*#
#%-....... .......-%#
####*%=-,. .,-=%*####