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.