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&.&&.&.&&. &.&.&.&&.&
&..&.&..&. 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. &.&.&.&&.&
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