#§$†:~,... ...,~:†$§#
##§$†:~,.. ..,~:†$§##
###§$†:~,. .,~:†$§###
##§$†:~,.. ..,~:†$§##
#§$†:~,... ...,~:†$§#
§$†:~,.... Orange-Clad Train-Climber Crew, Moving ....,~:†$§
$†:~,..... Along The Rusty Cargo Cars Like Some .....,~:†$
†:~,...... 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. .......,~:
†:~,...... ......,~:†
$†:~,..... I'M Almost Snoozing Again At The Time .....,~:†$
§$†:~,.... Karl Puts Down The Headphones And Slaps ....,~:†$§
#§$†:~,... Me On My Back. "Allright Boy. I Just ...,~:†$§#
##§$†:~,.. Sold A Missile." He Practically Beams ..,~:†$§##
###§$†:~,. At Me, Teeth Filed Sharp. "Wanna Make A .,~:†$§###
##§$†:~,.. Detour?" ..,~:†$§##
#§$†:~,... ...,~:†$§#
§$†:~,.... ....,~:†$§
$†:~,..... .....,~:†$
†:~,...... ......,~:†
:~,....... .......,~: