#@##$$†«-.                                          .-«†$$##@#
#@##$$†«-.                                          .-«†$$##@#
#@##$$†«-.                                          .-«†$$##@#
#@##$$†«-.                                          .-«†$$##@#
##@#$$†«-.                                          .-«†$$#@##
##$$$«-...             ................             ...-«$$$##
@##$«.....             THE ALVAR FIELDS             .....«$##@
####$$†«-.             $$$#@#@#@#@#@$$$             .-«†$$####
@###$$†«-.                                          .-«†$$###@
##@#$$†«-. FROM   NORTH   TO  SOUTH,   THIRTY   ODD .-«†$$#@##
#$$$$$†«-. KILOMETERS.  FROM  WEST  TO  EAST,  FOUR .-«†$$$$$#
#$$««««... 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.          .-«†$$##@#
#$$†-.....                                          .....-†$$#
#@##$$†«-.                                          .-«†$$##@#
##@##$†«-.                                          .-«†$##@##
####$$†«-.                                          .-«†$$####
#@##$$†«-.                                          .-«†$$##@#
##@#$$†«-.                                          .-«†$$#@##