,,,&,,,,,&                                          ,,,,&,,&&,
,,,,&,,,,&                                          ,,,,,&,&&&
&,,,,&,,,,                                          ,,,,,,,&,&
&&,,,,&,,,                                          ,,,,,,,,,&
,&&,,,,&,,                                          ,,,,,,,,,&
,&&&,,,,&, 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.       ,,&&&,,&,,
,,,,&,&&,,                                          ,,&,&&,,&,
,,,,,,&&&,                                          ,,,,&&&,,&
&,,,,,&,&&                                          ,,,,&,&&,,
,&,,,,,,&&                                          ,,,,,,&&&,
,,&,,,,,&,                                          &,,,,,&,&&