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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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