,,,,,,,:»\ \»:,,,,,,,
,,,,,,:»\* *\»:,,,,,,
,,,,,:»\*$ $*\»:,,,,,
,,,,:»\*$& &$*\»:,,,,
,,,:»\*$&# #&$*\»:,,,
,,:»\*$&## 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?" *\»:,,,,,,
,,,,,,,:»\ \»:,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,:» »:,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,: :,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,:» »:,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,:»\ \»:,,,,,,,