@**==,,,,, ,,,,,==**@
##@&**=~,, ,,~=**&@##
##@&**=~,, ,,~=**&@##
@**=,,,,,, ,,,,,,=**@
###&**=~,, ,,~=**##
##@&**=~,, 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?" ,,~=**&@##
#@&&**=~,, ,,~=**&&@#
##@&**=~,, ,,~=**&@##
&***=,,,,, ,,,,,=***&
&*===,,,,, ,,,,,===*&
##@&**=~,, ,,~=**&@##