.,=/*@####                                          ####@*/=,.
.,=/**@###                                          ###@**/=,.
.....=*@@#                                          #@@*=.....
.,=/**@###                                          ###@**/=,.
.,=/**@###                                          ###@**/=,.
.,=/*****@ 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.       @*****/=,.
.,=/**@###                                          ###@**/=,.
.,=/**@###                                          ###@**/=,.
.,=/**@###                                          ###@**/=,.
.,=/**@###                                          ###@**/=,.
...,//**@#                                          #@**//,...