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