.#.#..#.#.                                          .#..#.#.#.
##.#.##.#.                                          .#.##.#.#.
.#.#..#.#.                                          .#..#.#.#.
##.#.##.#.                                          .#.##.#.#.
.#.#..#.#.                                          .#..#.#.#.
##.#.##.#. 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.       .#..#.#.#.
##.#.##.#.                                          .#.##.#.#.
.#.#..#.#.                                          .#..#.#.#.
##.#.##.#.                                          .#.##.#.#.
.#.#..#.#.                                          .#..#.#.#.
##.#.##.#.                                          .#.##.#.#.