,,~;%@#### ####@%;~,,
,,~;%%@### ###@%%;~,,
,,~;%%%%## ##%%%%;~,,
,,,,,,~;%# #%;~,,,,,,
,,~;%%%@@# #@@%%%;~,,
,,~;%%%%## 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?" ###@%%;~,,
,,,~;%%@## ##@%%;~,,,
,,~;%%@@@# #@@@%%;~,,
,,~;%%@### ###@%%;~,,
,,,,,,;%@# #@%;,,,,,,
,,~;;;;%@# #@%;;;;~,,