###@*%;-,.                                          .,-;%*@###
###**%;-,.                                          .,-;%**###
##@#*%;-,.                                          .,-;%*#@##
##@#*%;-,.                                          .,-;%*#@##
##%%-,,...                                          ...,,-%%##
##@#*%;-,. 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.       .,-;%*#@##
##@#*%;-,.                                          .,-;%*#@##
#**;,.....                                          .....,;**#
##@#*%;-,.                                          .,-;%*#@##
###*;,....                                          ....,;*###
##@#*%;-,.                                          .,-;%*#@##