##@#§&=«,. .,«=&§#@##
#@#§&=«,.. ..,«=&§#@#
@#§&=«,... ...,«=&§#@
#§&=«,.... ....,«=&§#
§&=«,..... .....,«=&§
&=«,...... 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?" ....,«=&§#
§&=«,..... .....,«=&§
&=«,...... ......,«=&
=«,....... .......,«=
«,........ ........,«
=«,....... .......,«=