,,,~†%%&@# #@&%%†~,,,
,,,,~†%%&@ @&%%†~,,,,
,,,,,~†%%& &%%†~,,,,,
,,,,,,~†%% %%†~,,,,,,
,,,,,,,~†% %†~,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,~† 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?" ##@&%%†~,,
,,,~†%%&@# #@&%%†~,,,
,,,,~†%%&@ @&%%†~,,,,
,,,,,~†%%& &%%†~,,,,,
,,,,,,~†%% %%†~,,,,,,
,,,,,,,~†% %†~,,,,,,,