###@*%:~~, ,~~:%*@###
#@@@*%:~~, ,~~:%*@@@#
###@*%:~~, ,~~:%*@###
#*%%:~~,,, ,,,~~:%%*#
#*%~,,,,,, ,,,,,,~%*#
#@@%:~~~~, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,~~~~:%@@#
####*%:~~, 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. ,~~:%*@###
###@*%:~~, ,~~:%*@###
###@*%:~~, ,~~:%*@###
#@@@*%:~~, ,~~:%*@@@#
###@*%:~~, ,~~:%*@###
###@*%:~~, ,~~:%*@###
###@*%:~~, ,~~:%*@###