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@@@@*%\«:. .:«\%*@@@@
###@*%\«:. 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 ......:\*#
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###@*%\«:. 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?" .:«\%*@###
@@@*%«.... ....«%*@@@
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