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