..»/=%##@# #@##%=/»..
..»/=##@## ##@##=/»..
..»/=%##@@ @@##%=/»..
.......»=# #=».......
.....»=##@ @##=».....
..»/=%##@# 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?" ##%%//....
....»=%%## ##%%=»....
..»/=%#@## ##@#%=/»..
.....»/=#@ @#=/».....
....»»==%# #%==»»....
...»»/%%#@ @#%%/»»...