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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... &.&.&..&..
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&.&.&.&.&& 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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