@#@$%\~,.. ..,~\%$@#@
#@$%\~,... ...,~\%$@#
@$%\~,.... ....,~\%$@
$%\~,..... .....,~\%$
%\~,...... ......,~\%
\~,....... 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 ......,~\%
$%\~,..... karl puts down the headphones and slaps .....,~\%$
@$%\~,.... me on my back. "allright boy. i just ....,~\%$@
#@$%\~,... sold a missile." he practically beams ...,~\%$@#
@#@$%\~,.. at me, teeth filed sharp. "wanna make a ..,~\%$@#@
#@#@$%\~,. detour?" .,~\%$@#@#
@#@$%\~,.. ..,~\%$@#@
#@$%\~,... ...,~\%$@#
@$%\~,.... ....,~\%$@
$%\~,..... .....,~\%$
%\~,...... ......,~\%