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&,&,&,&,&, &,&,,&,&&,
&,&,&,&,&, &,&,&&,,&,
&,&,&,&,&, &,&,,&,&&,
&,&,&,&,&, 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?" &,&,&&,,&,
&,&,&,&,&, &,&,,&,&&,
&,&,&,&,&, &,&,&&,,&,
&,&,&,&,&, &,&,,&,&&,
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&,&,&,&,&, &,&,,&,&&,