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