#@@&**\»,. .,»\**&@@#
@@@&**\»,. .,»\**&@@@
##@&**\»,. .,»\**&@##
@@@&**\»,. .,»\**&@@@
##@&**\»,. .,»\**&@##
&***»..... 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. .,»\*&@@##
&&*\,,,... ...,,,\*&&
@***\,.... ....,\***@
&**»...... ......»**&
@@&***\»,. .,»\***&@@
&&*»,,.... ....,,»*&&