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