.~»=§*#@## ##@#*§=»~.
.~»=§*#@## ##@#*§=»~.
.....»§§*# #*§§».....
.~»=§*#@## ##@#*§=»~.
.~»=§*#@## ##@#*§=»~.
.~»==§§*@@ 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?" ##*§§§=»~.
.~»=§*#@## ##@#*§=»~.
...»==*### ###*==»...
.~»=§*#@@# #@@#*§=»~.
.~»=§§**## ##**§§=»~.
.~»=§*#@## ##@#*§=»~.