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##@&$%†«..             THE ALVAR FIELDS             ..«†%$&@##
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##@&$%†«.. FROM   NORTH   TO   SOUTH,  THIRTY   ODD ..«†%$&@##
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##@&$%†«.. THOUSAND METERS. FROM  TOPSOIL TO STONE, ..«†%$&@##
&&%†††.... A FOOT OR  TWO. NO ROOTS  CAN FESTER, NO ....†††%&&
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##@&$%†«..                                          ..«†%$&@##
##@&$%†«.. HERE  IS  EARTH,  CLAY,  AND  STURDY LOW ..«†%$&@##
###@$%†«.. PLANTS.  BUSHES  FRAME  THE  STRIP.  THE ..«†%$@###
#&&&$%†«.. EARTH  IS BARE  IN PATCHES AS  LARGE  AS ..«†%$&&&#
&$%«......                YOU AND ME.               ......«%$&
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##@&$%†«.. CROSS IT  TO GET TO THE OCEAN, OR  DON'T ..«†%$&@##
&$$†......          TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE.          ......†$$&
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