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