.~=†*%@###                                          ###@%*†=~.
..~=†*%@##                                          ##@%*†=~..
...~=†*%@#                                          #@%*†=~...
....~=†*%@                                          @%*†=~....
...~=†*%@#                                          #@%*†=~...
..~=†*%@##  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?"                 ##@%*†=~..
.~=†*%@###                                          ###@%*†=~.
..~=†*%@##                                          ##@%*†=~..
...~=†*%@#                                          #@%*†=~...
....~=†*%@                                          @%*†=~....
...~=†*%@#                                          #@%*†=~...