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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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