##@#&=\~:. .:~\=&#@##
#@#&=\~:.. ..:~\=&#@#
@#&=\~:... ...:~\=&#@
#&=\~:.... ....:~\=&#
&=\~:..... .....:~\=&
=\~:...... 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?" ......:~\=
&=\~:..... .....:~\=&
#&=\~:.... ....:~\=&#
@#&=\~:... ...:~\=&#@
#@#&=\~:.. ..:~\=&#@#
##@#&=\~:. .:~\=&#@##