......:=†*                                          *†=:......
.....:=†**                                          **†=:.....
....:=†**§                                          §**†=:....
...:=†**§@                                          @§**†=:...
..:=†**§@@                                          @@§**†=:..
.:=†**§@@# 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.       @@§**†=:..
...:=†**§@                                          @§**†=:...
....:=†**§                                          §**†=:....
.....:=†**                                          **†=:.....
......:=†*                                          *†=:......
.......:=†                                          †=:.......