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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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