####%%:~:. .:~:%%####
###%%:~:.. ..:~:%%###
##%%:~:... ...:~:%%##
#%%:~:.... ....:~:%%#
%%:~:..... .....:~:%%
%:~:...... 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?" ....:~:%%#
%%:~:..... .....:~:%%
%:~:...... ......:~:%
:~:....... .......:~:
~:........ ........:~
:~:....... .......:~: