,,,,,,,,##                                          ,,,,,,,,,,
#######,,#                                          ##########
######,,,,                                          ##########
#####,,##,                                          ,#########
####,,,,,,                                          ,,########
###,,####,  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?"                 ##########
##########                                          ##########
##########                                          ##########
##########                                          ##########
##########                                          ##########
##########                                          ##########