.,~;*##@## ##@##*;~,.
.,~;*&###@ @###&*;~,.
.,~;**&&## ##&&**;~,.
.,~;*&#### ####&*;~,.
.....,,~*# #*~,,.....
......,~*# 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. ##****;~,.
.,~;*&##@# #@##&*;~,.
.,~;*&###@ @###&*;~,.
.,~;*&##@# #@##&*;~,.
.,~;&##@## ##@##&;~,.
...,,;;*## ##*;;,,...