....==†*#¶                                          ¶#*†==....
...==†*#¶#                                          #¶#*†==...
..==†*#¶##                                          ##¶#*†==..
...==†*#¶#                                          #¶#*†==...
....==†*#¶                                          ¶#*†==....
.....==†*# 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.       *†==......
.......==†                                          †==.......
........==                                          ==........
.........=                                          =.........
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