##@#%^*«:. .:«*^%#@##
####%^*«:. .:«*^%####
####%^*«:. .:«*^%####
#%*****«:. .:«*****%#
##@#%^*«:. .:«*^%#@##
##@#%^*«:. 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?" ......:*%@
##@#%^*«:. .:«*^%#@##
###%%^*«:. .:«*^%%###
##@#%^*«:. .:«*^%#@##
###^**««:. .:««**^###
#@##%^*«:. .:«*^%##@#