#@@&†:~.,, ,,.~:†&@@#
@@&†:~.,,, ,,,.~:†&@@
@&†:~.,,,, ,,,,.~:†&@
@@&†:~.,,, ,,,.~:†&@@
#@@&†:~.,, ,,.~:†&@@#
##@@&†:~., 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?" ,.~:†&@@##
#@@&†:~.,, ,,.~:†&@@#
@@&†:~.,,, ,,,.~:†&@@
@&†:~.,,,, ,,,,.~:†&@
@@&†:~.,,, ,,,.~:†&@@
#@@&†:~.,, ,,.~:†&@@#