####$==«.. ..«==$####
###$==«... ...«==$###
##$==«.... ....«==$##
#$==«..... .....«==$#
$==«...... ......«==$
#$==«..... orange-clad train-climber crew, moving .....«==$#
##$==«.... along the rusty cargo cars like some ....«==$##
###$==«... species of ferrophage insect. up and ...«==$###
####$==«.. down the train, checking bolts, oiling ..«==$####
###$==«... joints, drinking coffee, smoking ...«==$###
##$==«.... cigarettes. ....«==$##
#$==«..... .....«==$#
$==«...... @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ......«==$
#$==«..... .....«==$#
##$==«.... we were going south through finland at ....«==$##
###$==«... the time, sleeping close to the ...«==$###
####$==«.. furnace, watching the aurora borealis. ..«==$####
###$==«... twenty-something members of the crew, ...«==$###
##$==«.... most of which were mechanics, or ....«==$##
#$==«..... loaders, with large and hairy hands .....«==$#
$==«...... that could swallow my entire body. and ......«==$
#$==«..... me featuring as the cute and asocial .....«==$#
##$==«.... radio operator, stationed in the back ....«==$##
###$==«... of the kilometer-long train, which ...«==$###
####$==«.. served me good and well. ..«==$####
###$==«... ...«==$###
##$==«.... and then one night, there's a missile. ....«==$##
#$==«..... we would routinely pick up new cars at .....«==$#
$==«...... the tail, and drop some off, as a way ......«==$
#$==«..... of earning some extra money. but a .....«==$#
##$==«.... missile, and appearing silently in the ....«==$##
###$==«... middle of the night at that? not ...«==$###
####$==«.. entirely... comfortable. ..«==$####
###$==«... ...«==$###
##$==«.... i call it in on the walkie-talkie. not ....«==$##
#$==«..... many others awake, they know nothing .....«==$#
$==«...... about it, and appear concerned as well. ......«==$
#$==«..... .....«==$#
##$==«.... @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ....«==$##
###$==«... ...«==$###
####$==«.. when i fall awake in the afternoon, ..«==$####
###$==«... karl is there, smiling at me. "hey ...«==$###
##$==«.... boy," he says, "wanna help me make a ....«==$##
#$==«..... call?" .....«==$#
$==«...... ......«==$
#$==«..... after he's brought me coffee, i dial .....«==$#
##$==«.... the frequency from his notebook, and ....«==$##
###$==«... after a while there's a reply in ...«==$###
####$==«.. pan-slavic. karl laughs and makes a ..«==$####
###$==«... reply in the same language. even though ...«==$###
##$==«.... we both have headphones i can't follow ....«==$##
#$==«..... at all, but i hear the word "missile" a .....«==$#
$==«...... few times. ......«==$
#$==«..... .....«==$#
##$==«.... i'm almost snoozing again at the time ....«==$##
###$==«... karl puts down the headphones and slaps ...«==$###
####$==«.. me on my back. "allright boy. i just ..«==$####
###$==«... sold a missile." he practically beams ...«==$###
##$==«.... at me, teeth filed sharp. "wanna make a ....«==$##
#$==«..... detour?" .....«==$#
$==«...... ......«==$
#$==«..... .....«==$#
##$==«.... ....«==$##
###$==«... ...«==$###
####$==«.. ..«==$####