,,,~†*$&@#                                          #@&$*†~,,,
,,~†*$&@##                                          ##@&$*†~,,
,,,~†*$&@#                                          #@&$*†~,,,
,,,,~†*$&@                                          @&$*†~,,,,
,,,,,~†*$&                                          &$*†~,,,,,
,,,,~†*$&@             ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,             @&$*†~,,,,
,,,~†*$&@#             THE ALVAR FIELDS             #@&$*†~,,,
,,~†*$&@##             $$$#@#@#@#@#@$$$             ##@&$*†~,,
,,,~†*$&@#                                          #@&$*†~,,,
,,,,~†*$&@ 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.          @&$*†~,,,,
,,,,,~†*$&                                          &$*†~,,,,,
,,,,~†*$&@                                          @&$*†~,,,,
,,,~†*$&@#                                          #@&$*†~,,,
,,~†*$&@##                                          ##@&$*†~,,
,,,~†*$&@#                                          #@&$*†~,,,
,,,,~†*$&@                                          @&$*†~,,,,