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.