&.&....... .&.&&&&&.&
&.&......& &&..&&&&..
&.&.....&. .&.&.&&&.&
&.&....&&. &&.&..&&..
&.&...&.&. .&.&.&.&.&
&.&..&&.&. 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?" &&.&.&.&..
&.&.&.&.&. .&.&.&.&.&
&.&.&.&.&. &&.&.&.&..
&.&.&.&.&. .&.&.&.&.&
&.&.&.&.&. &&.&.&.&..
&.&.&.&.&. .&.&.&.&.&