..:=;†&&@#                                          #@&&†;=:..
.:=;†&&@##                                          ##@&&†;=:.
..:=;†&&@#                                          #@&&†;=:..
...:=;†&&@                                          @&&†;=:...
....:=;†&&                                          &&†;=:....
.....:=;†& 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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...:=;†&&@                                          @&&†;=:...