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.