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&&.&&.&.&. IN THE ENDLESS WINTER DAY, ON THE &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. CRYSTAL WHITE PLAINS... WE TRUDGE ALONG .&.&&.&.&.
&&.&&.&.&. THE TRAIN TRACKS... THEMSELVES SLOWLY &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. SNOWED OVER, IN THE STILL HOURS SINCE .&.&&.&.&.
&&.&&.&.&. THE LAST SUPPLY TRAIN. &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. .&.&&.&.&.
&&.&&.&.&. BELL-LIKE SOUNDS OF THE BLINDING &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. GROUND. RIFLES ATTACHED TO OUR WRIST, .&.&&.&.&.
&&.&&.&.&. SHARING IN OUR BLOODSTREAM. MY HUSKY, &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. MY WARM-COFFEE-IN-COLD-SNOW... .&.&&.&.&.
&&.&&.&.&. &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. THE FIRST FIVE SHOTS YOU CAN SPEND .&.&&.&.&.
&&.&&.&.&. INDISCRIMINATELY, THEY HURT BUT DEAL NO &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. LONG TIME DAMAGE TO THE SHOOTER. THE .&.&&.&.&.
&&.&&.&.&. NEXT FIVE YOU MUST SPEND WISELY, THEY &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. WILL TAKE DAYS TO HEAL. THE FINAL FIVE .&.&&.&.&.
&&.&&.&.&. YOU MUST NOT SPEND AT ALL. &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. .&.&&.&.&.
&&.&&.&.&. WEEKS EARLIER, IN THE WEAK AUTUMN DAWN, &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. IN THE BLUE-GRAY FOG... SOMETHING IS .&.&&.&.&.
&&.&&.&.&. BURNING WITH A DEEP CRIMSON FLAME, &&..&.&.&.
.&..&.&.&. UNTAMEABLE BY WATER OR WIND. .&.&&.&.&.
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