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.