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