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