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