¨-»=%§#@## ##@#§%=»-¨
¨¨-»=%§#@# #@#§%=»-¨¨
¨-»=%§#@## ##@#§%=»-¨
¨¨-»=%§#@# #@#§%=»-¨¨
¨-»=%§#@## ##@#§%=»-¨
¨¨-»=%§#@# 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?" #@#§%=»-¨¨
¨-»=%§#@## ##@#§%=»-¨
¨¨-»=%§#@# #@#§%=»-¨¨
¨-»=%§#@## ##@#§%=»-¨
¨¨-»=%§#@# #@#§%=»-¨¨
¨-»=%§#@## ##@#§%=»-¨