..,~\†@#@#                                          #@#@†\~,..
.,~\†@#@##                                          ##@#@†\~,.
..,~\†@#@#                                          #@#@†\~,..
...,~\†@#@                                          @#@†\~,...
....,~\†@#                                          #@†\~,....
.....,~\†@             ................             @†\~,.....
......,~\†             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.          @†\~,.....
....,~\†@#                                          #@†\~,....
...,~\†@#@                                          @#@†\~,...
..,~\†@#@#                                          #@#@†\~,..
.,~\†@#@##                                          ##@#@†\~,.
..,~\†@#@#                                          #@#@†\~,..
...,~\†@#@                                          @#@†\~,...