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..&.&.&&&. ................ &.&&..&.&.
..&&&&&..& 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. ..&.&....&
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