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