###§&$*~~, ,~~*$&§###
##§&$*~~,, ,,~~*$&§##
#§&$*~~,,, ,,,~~*$&§#
§&$*~~,,,, ,,,,~~*$&§
&$*~~,,,,, ,,,,,~~*$&
$*~~,,,,,, orange-clad train-climber crew, moving ,,,,,,~~*$
*~~,,,,,,, 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?" ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,
~,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,~