=~:....... .......:~=
*=~:...... ......:~=*
%*=~:..... .....:~=*%
&%*=~:.... ....:~=*%&
#&%*=~:... ...:~=*%&#
##&%*=~:.. 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?" ....:~=*%&
#&%*=~:... ...:~=*%&#
##&%*=~:.. ..:~=*%&##
###&%*=~:. .:~=*%&###
##&%*=~:.. ..:~=*%&##
#&%*=~:... ...:~=*%&#