.-=/*%&@##                                          ##@&%*/=-.
....-=/**&                                          &**/=-....
.-=/*%&&&@                                          @&&&%*/=-.
.-=/*&#@##                                          ##@#&*/=-.
....=///%&                                          &%///=....
......==*& 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.       ##@&%*/=-.
.-=/*%&&##                                          ##&&%*/=-.
.-=/*%&#@#                                          #@#&%*/=-.
......-/%&                                          &%/-......
.-=/*%&#@#                                          #@#&%*/=-.
...==/*&##                                          ##&*/==...