##@#%†^«~, ,~«^†%#@##
#@#%†^«~,, ,,~«^†%#@#
@#%†^«~,,, ,,,~«^†%#@
#%†^«~,,,, ,,,,~«^†%#
%†^«~,,,,, ,,,,,~«^†%
†^«~,,,,,, 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?" ,,,,~«^†%#
%†^«~,,,,, ,,,,,~«^†%
†^«~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~«^†
^«~,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,~«^
«~,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,~«
^«~,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,~«^