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 
 indisciminatory,  they hurt but  deal no 
 long  time  damage  to  the wielder. the 
 next five you must  spend  wisely,  they 
 will  take days  to heal. the  next 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.