.,,,,~;%##                                          ##%;~,,,,.
...,;;*&&#                                          #&&*;;,...
.,~;*%&###                                          ###&%*;~,.
.,~;*%&###                                          ###&%*;~,.
.,~*%&####                                          ####&%*~,.
..,,;;%&&# 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.       ###&%*;~,.
.....~;*&&                                          &&*;~.....
.,~;*%&###                                          ###&%*;~,.
....,;;%&#                                          #&%;;,....
.....~;%&&                                          &&%;~.....
.,~;*%&###                                          ###&%*;~,.