####&§*»,. .,»*§&####
#§§*,..... .....,*§§#
####&§*»,. .,»*§&####
#&§**,.... ....,**§&#
####&§*»,. .,»*§&####
#&§§***»,. 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?" ..,,»»§&##
####&§*»,. .,»*§&####
####&§*»,. .,»*§&####
####&§*»,. .,»*§&####
####&§*»,. .,»*§&####
####&§*»,. .,»*§&####