#§%=:=,...                                          ...,=:=%§#
##§%=:=,..                                          ..,=:=%§##
###§%=:=,.                                          .,=:=%§###
##§%=:=,..                                          ..,=:=%§##
#§%=:=,...                                          ...,=:=%§#
§%=:=,.... 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.       .........,
=,........                                          ........,=
:=,.......                                          .......,=:
=:=,......                                          ......,=:=
%=:=,.....                                          .....,=:=%
§%=:=,....                                          ....,=:=%§