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?"