%\~,...... ......,~\%
*%\~,..... .....,~\%*
&*%\~,.... ....,~\%*&
#&*%\~,... ...,~\%*&#
##&*%\~,.. ..,~\%*&##
###&*%\~,. 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. ..,~\%*&##
#&*%\~,... ...,~\%*&#
&*%\~,.... ....,~\%*&
*%\~,..... .....,~\%*
%\~,...... ......,~\%
\~,....... .......,~\