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