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