:==*%&####                                          ####&%*==:
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....:::=*&                                          &*=:::....
.::::::=*&                                          &*=::::::.
.....:==%&                                          &%==:.....
.:==*%&### 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.       ####%*==:.
.:==*%&###                                          ###&%*==:.
....:=*%&&                                          &&%*=:....
.:==*%&###                                          ###&%*==:.
....:==%&#                                          #&%==:....
.:==*%&###                                          ###&%*==:.