..##...#.#                                          ..#..##.#.
.#.#..####                                          .##.#.###.
####.#...#                                          #.####..#.
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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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