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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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