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