@##%†*~^.. ..^~*†%##@
#@##%†*~^. .^~*†%##@#
@##%†*~^.. ..^~*†%##@
##%†*~^... ...^~*†%##
#%†*~^.... ....^~*†%#
##%†*~^... 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?" ...^~*†%##
@##%†*~^.. ..^~*†%##@
#@##%†*~^. .^~*†%##@#
@##%†*~^.. ..^~*†%##@
##%†*~^... ...^~*†%##
#%†*~^.... ....^~*†%#