@†---..... .....---†@
###@%†/--. .--/†%@###
@@%/---... ...---/%@@
##@@%†/--. .--/†%@@##
##@@%†/--. .--/†%@@##
@%%†-..... 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?" .----††%%@
@%%/-----. .-----/%%@
##@@%†/--. .--/†%@@##
@%%///---. .---///%%@
##@@%†/--. .--/†%@@##
@%%/-..... .....-/%%@