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