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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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