##@#§*\-.. ..-\*§#@##
#@#§*\-... ...-\*§#@#
@#§*\-.... ....-\*§#@
#§*\-..... .....-\*§#
§*\-...... ......-\*§
*\-....... ................ .......-\*
§*\-...... 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. ...-\*§#@#
##@#§*\-.. ..-\*§#@##
###@#§*\-. .-\*§#@###
##@#§*\-.. ..-\*§#@##
#@#§*\-... ...-\*§#@#
@#§*\-.... ....-\*§#@
#§*\-..... .....-\*§#