#&$†:=^... ...^=:†$&#
##&$†:=^.. ..^=:†$&##
###&$†:=^. .^=:†$&###
##&$†:=^.. ..^=:†$&##
#&$†:=^... ...^=:†$&#
&$†:=^.... Orange-Clad Train-Climber Crew, Moving ....^=:†$&
$†:=^..... Along The Rusty Cargo Cars Like Some .....^=:†$
†:=^...... 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?" ..........
^......... .........^
=^........ ........^=
:=^....... .......^=:
†:=^...... ......^=:†
$†:=^..... .....^=:†$