%;=~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~=;%
;=~,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,~=;
=~,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,~=
~,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,~
,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,
~,,,,,,,,, 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?" ,,,,,,,,,~
=~,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,~=
;=~,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,~=;
%;=~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~=;%
%%;=~,,,,, ,,,,,~=;%%
§%%;=~,,,, ,,,,~=;%%§