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###$$;~:.. IN THE ENDLESS WINTER DAY, ON THE ..:~;$$###
##$$;~:... CRYSTAL WHITE PLAINS... WE TRUDGE ALONG ...:~;$$##
#$$;~:.... THE TRAIN TRACKS... THEMSELVES SLOWLY ....:~;$$#
$$;~:..... SNOWED OVER, IN THE STILL HOURS SINCE .....:~;$$
$;~:...... THE LAST SUPPLY TRAIN. ......:~;$
;~:....... .......:~;
~:........ 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 .......:~;
$;~:...... NEXT FIVE YOU MUST SPEND WISELY, THEY ......:~;$
$$;~:..... WILL TAKE DAYS TO HEAL. THE FINAL FIVE .....:~;$$
#$$;~:.... YOU MUST NOT SPEND AT ALL. ....:~;$$#
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###$$;~:.. WEEKS EARLIER, IN THE WEAK AUTUMN DAWN, ..:~;$$###
####$$;~:. IN THE BLUE-GRAY FOG... SOMETHING IS .:~;$$####
###$$;~:.. BURNING WITH A DEEP CRIMSON FLAME, ..:~;$$###
##$$;~:... UNTAMEABLE BY WATER OR WIND. ...:~;$$##
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$;~:...... ......:~;$
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