......,/*#                                          #*/,......
.,=/**##@@                                          @@##**/=,.
.,=/**##@#                                          #@##**/=,.
.,=/****##                                          ##****/=,.
......,/*#                                          #*/,......
.,=/**##@# 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.       #*/,,.....
.,=/**##@#                                          #@##**/=,.
.,=/**###@                                          @###**/=,.
.,=/**#@##                                          ##@#**/=,.
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.,==///*##                                          ##*///==,.