##@##§*--. .--*§##@##
#@##§*--.. ..--*§##@#
@##§*--... ...--*§##@
##§*--.... ....--*§##
#§*--..... .....--*§#
§*--...... 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?" ..--*§##@#
##@##§*--. .--*§##@##
#@##§*--.. ..--*§##@#
@##§*--... ...--*§##@
##§*--.... ....--*§##
#§*--..... .....--*§#