.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ..........
,......... .........,
~,........ ........,~
\~,....... ................ .......,~\
%\~,...... 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. ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ..........