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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. &.&.&&.&.&
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&.&&.&.&.& BELL-LIKE SOUNDS OF THE BLINDING &.&.&&.&.&
&..&.&.&.& GROUND. RIFLES ATTACHED TO OUR WRIST, &.&..&.&..
&.&&.&.&.& SHARING IN OUR BLOODSTREAM. MY HUSKY, &.&.&&.&.&
&..&.&.&.& MY WARM-COFFEE-IN-COLD-SNOW... &.&..&.&..
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&..&.&.&.& 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. &.&.&&.&.&
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&.&&.&.&.& 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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