..^«/%*#@#                                          #@#*%/«^..
...^«/%*#@                                          @#*%/«^...
..^«/%*#@#                                          #@#*%/«^..
.^«/%*#@##                                          ##@#*%/«^.
..^«/%*#@#                                          #@#*%/«^..
...^«/%*#@             ................             @#*%/«^...
..^«/%*#@#             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.          @#*%/«^...
..^«/%*#@#                                          #@#*%/«^..
.^«/%*#@##                                          ##@#*%/«^.
..^«/%*#@#                                          #@#*%/«^..
...^«/%*#@                                          @#*%/«^...
..^«/%*#@#                                          #@#*%/«^..
.^«/%*#@##                                          ##@#*%/«^.