For over a year now I've wandered through life, aimless, not playing any Advanced Squad Leader, not playing any wargames at all. But I couldn't play. Life broke out in sudden violent storms, and my home was shattered by lightning. I stumbled outside in a daze, leaving everything in a heap, abandoning it all. The rain cut so thick I could not see ahead of me as I walked, and the wind cut my face and I bled. But I kept walking, not knowing where I went or what I was seeking or whether I was seeking anything in the first place.
I walked, in darkness, for months. And then a great snow fell. For days and days it snowed and then I could see again, for the light of the moon was reflected from the snow and all was bright again. But the earth was covered with a thick blanket and I knew not where I was. And nothing grew; for want of food I felt starved. Many times I wanted to lie down, to die, and I would lie down; but a friend would pass by and pull me up, brush the dusty snow from my face, and warm my cheek with a kiss. She always left me alone, though, because the journey was mine own to walk.
And then a great red sun rose in the sky and it melted all the snow. I was stuck in a torrent of mud, and the sun did not set and the mud became dust and the earth cracked, parched. I had nothing to drink but wine, and lay in drunkenness, my tongue was swollen and I thought that now I would die.
But then in my wanderings I met with Purity, who cleansed me of all the sweat and grime, and filled my pitcher with water and not wine, and pulled the planks from my eyes. The sun died down and there was no wind and the weather was moderate; and I looked and saw that I had not traveled at all, but there in a heap was Advanced Squad Leader, waiting for me.
And I took those dice in hand, and tossed them. Things were fair: there would be no change in wind for some time to come.
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