.~«:$¤&@@# #@@&¤$:«~.
.~«:$¤&@@@ @@@&¤$:«~.
.~«:$$$¤@@ @@¤$$$:«~.
.....«$$¤@ @¤$$«.....
.~«:$¤&@@# #@@&¤$:«~.
.~«:$¤¤&&@ IN THE ENDLESS WINTER DAY, ON THE @&&¤¤$:«~.
.~«:$¤&@@# CRYSTAL WHITE PLAINS... WE TRUDGE ALONG #@@&¤$:«~.
.~«:$¤&@@# THE TRAIN TRACKS... THEMSELVES SLOWLY #@@&¤$:«~.
.~«:$¤&@@# SNOWED OVER, IN THE STILL HOURS SINCE #@@&¤$:«~.
.....««:¤& 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, &&&¤:«««~.
.~«:$¤&&&@ IN THE BLUE-GRAY FOG... SOMETHING IS @&&&¤$:«~.
.~«:$¤&@@# BURNING WITH A DEEP CRIMSON FLAME, #@@&¤$:«~.
.~«:$¤¤&&& UNTAMEABLE BY WATER OR WIND. &&&¤¤$:«~.
....~:::$& &$:::~....
.~«:$¤&@@@ @@@&¤$:«~.
..~««:$¤&& &&¤$:««~..
...~~~:$$& &$$:~~~...
.~«:$¤&@@# #@@&¤$:«~.