##@#%^^~-, ,-~^^%#@##
###@#%^~-, ,-~^%#@###
#@@#%^^~-, ,-~^^%#@@#
##@#%^^~-, ,-~^^%#@##
@@#^^^^~-, ,-~^^^^#@@
##^^~-,,,, 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?" ,-~^^%#@##
#@%%^--,,, ,,,--^%%@#
##@#%^^~-, ,-~^^%#@##
##@#%^^~-, ,-~^^%#@##
##@#%^^~-, ,-~^^%#@##
@#^~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~^#@