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§*:::::~^, ,^~:::::*§
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#§**:::~^, ,^~:::**§#
@%%:~~^,,, 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?" ,,,,,^^~*§
@@§§%*:~^, ,^~:*%§§@@
##@§%*:~^, ,^~:*%§@##
##@§%*:~^, ,^~:*%§@##
@§%:^,,,,, ,,,,,^:%§@
§*****:~^, ,^~:*****§