,,,,:~/%$¤                                          ¤$%/~:,,,,
,,,:~/%$¤#                                          #¤$%/~:,,,
,,:~/%$¤##                                          ##¤$%/~:,,
,:~/%$¤###                                          ###¤$%/~:,
,,:~/%$¤##                                          ##¤$%/~:,,
,,,:~/%$¤#             ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,             #¤$%/~:,,,
,,,,:~/%$¤             the alvar fields             ¤$%/~:,,,,
,,,,,:~/%$             $$$##########$$$             $%/~:,,,,,
,,,,,,:~/%                                          %/~:,,,,,,
,,,,,,,:~/ from   north  to   south,   thirty   odd /~:,,,,,,,
,,,,,,:~/% kilometers.  from  west  to  east,  four %/~:,,,,,,
,,,,,:~/%$ thousand meters. from topsoil to  stone, $%/~:,,,,,
,,,,:~/%$¤ a foot or  two. no roots can  fester, no ¤$%/~:,,,,
,,,:~/%$¤#             dust can linger.             #¤$%/~:,,,
,,:~/%$¤##                                          ##¤$%/~:,,
,:~/%$¤### here  is  earth,  clay,  and sturdy  low ###¤$%/~:,
,,:~/%$¤## plants.  bushes  frame  the  strip.  the ##¤$%/~:,,
,,,:~/%$¤# earth  is  bare in patches  as large  as #¤$%/~:,,,
,,,,:~/%$¤               you and me.                ¤$%/~:,,,,
,,,,,:~/%$                                          $%/~:,,,,,
,,,,,,:~/% cross  it to  get to the ocean, or don't %/~:,,,,,,
,,,,,,,:~/          to stay where you are.          /~:,,,,,,,
,,,,,,:~/%                                          %/~:,,,,,,
,,,,,:~/%$                                          $%/~:,,,,,
,,,,:~/%$¤                                          ¤$%/~:,,,,
,,,:~/%$¤#                                          #¤$%/~:,,,
,,:~/%$¤##                                          ##¤$%/~:,,
,:~/%$¤###                                          ###¤$%/~:,