#¤%%;«,,,, ,,,,«;%%¤#
##¤%%;«,,, ,,,«;%%¤##
###¤%%;«,, ,,«;%%¤###
##¤%%;«,,, ,,,«;%%¤##
#¤%%;«,,,, ,,,,«;%%¤#
¤%%;«,,,,, 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?" ,,,,,«;%%¤
#¤%%;«,,,, ,,,,«;%%¤#
##¤%%;«,,, ,,,«;%%¤##
###¤%%;«,, ,,«;%%¤###
##¤%%;«,,, ,,,«;%%¤##
#¤%%;«,,,, ,,,,«;%%¤#