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=/».,,,,,, 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?" .»/=%¤£###
##£¤%=/»., ,.»/=%¤£##
#£¤%=/».,, ,,.»/=%¤£#
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