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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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