.&.....&..                                          &.....&...
...&&&...&                                          ..&&&...&&
.&..&..&..                                          &..&..&...
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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.       &&&....&&.
&&..&&&&..                                          &&..&&....
.....&&...                                          &......&&.
&&&&....&&                                          ..&&&&....
.&&..&&..&                                          &..&&..&&.
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