##@#¤$^-.. ..-^$¤#@##
@#¤^...... ......^¤#@
##@#¤$^-.. ..-^$¤#@##
##@#¤$^-.. ..-^$¤#@##
##@#¤$^-.. ..-^$¤#@##
#$^-...... Orange-Clad Train-Climber Crew, Moving ......-^$#
####¤$^-.. Along The Rusty Cargo Cars Like Some ..-^$¤####
##@#¤$^-.. Species Of Ferrophage Insect. Up And ..-^$¤#@##
####¤$^-.. Down The Train, Checking Bolts, Oiling ..-^$¤####
##@#¤$^-.. Joints, Drinking Coffee, Smoking ..-^$¤#@##
###@#¤^-.. 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 ......^¤@#
##@#¤$^-.. Karl Puts Down The Headphones And Slaps ..-^$¤#@##
@¤$^^--... Me On My Back. "Allright Boy. I Just ...--^^$¤@
#@@#¤$^-.. Sold A Missile." He Practically Beams ..-^$¤#@@#
@@@#¤$^-.. At Me, Teeth Filed Sharp. "Wanna Make A ..-^$¤#@@@
##@#¤$^-.. Detour?" ..-^$¤#@##
#@#$-..... .....-$#@#
####¤$^-.. ..-^$¤####
#@¤^^..... .....^^¤@#
###@#¤$^-. .-^$¤#@###
##¤$$-.... ....-$$¤##