#@$$$:~,,, ,,,~:$$$@#
@@$~^,,,,, ,,,,,^~$@@
#@$$~^,,,, ,,,,^~$$@#
##@@$$:~^, ,^~:$$@@##
@$$~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~$$@
#@@$:~,,,, orange-clad train-climber crew, moving ,,,,~:$@@#
##@@$$:~^, along the rusty cargo cars like some ,^~:$$@@##
@$:^,,,,,, species of ferrophage insect. up and ,,,,,,^:$@
##@@$$:~^, down the train, checking bolts, oiling ,^~:$$@@##
@@$~^,,,,, joints, drinking coffee, smoking ,,,,,^~$@@
@$$$:^,,,, cigarettes. ,,,,^:$$$@
###@$$:~^, ,^~:$$@###
#@$:~^,,,, @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ,,,,^~:$@#
@$$$$$:~^, ,^~:$$$$$@
#@@@$$:~^, 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?" ,^~~::$$@#
@$:~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~:$@
@$$~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~$$@
@$$$~,,,,, ,,,,,~$$$@
##@@$$:~^, ,^~:$$@@##
@@$:^,,,,, ,,,,,^:$@@