......=†§%                                          %§†=......
.....=†§%§                                          §%§†=.....
....=†§%§#                                          #§%§†=....
...=†§%§#@                                          @#§%§†=...
..=†§%§#@#                                          #@#§%§†=..
...=†§%§#@ 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.       #§%§†=....
...=†§%§#@                                          @#§%§†=...
..=†§%§#@#                                          #@#§%§†=..
...=†§%§#@                                          @#§%§†=...
....=†§%§#                                          #§%§†=....
.....=†§%§                                          §%§†=.....