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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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