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.