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.