..&&..&&&& ..&.&&.&..
.&.&.&.&&& .&&..&.&..
&&.&.&..&& &.&.&&.&..
.&.&.&.&.& &.&..&.&.&
.&.&.&.&.& &.&.&&.&.&
.&.&.&.&.& 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?" &.&..&.&.&
.&.&.&.&.& &.&.&&.&.&
.&.&.&.&.& &.&..&.&.&
.&.&.&.&.& &.&.&&.&.&
.&.&.&.&.& &.&..&.&.&
.&.&.&.&.& &.&.&&.&.&