,.~:^&§@##                                          ##@§&^:~.,
,,.~:^&§@#                                          #@§&^:~.,,
,,,.~:^&§@                                          @§&^:~.,,,
,,.~:^&§@#                                          #@§&^:~.,,
,.~:^&§@##                                          ##@§&^:~.,
,,.~:^&§@# 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.       @§&^:~.,,,
,,.~:^&§@#                                          #@§&^:~.,,
,.~:^&§@##                                          ##@§&^:~.,
,,.~:^&§@#                                          #@§&^:~.,,
,,,.~:^&§@                                          @§&^:~.,,,
,,.~:^&§@#                                          #@§&^:~.,,