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@@%%==.,,,             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.          ,.«=%@@@##
##@@%%=«.,                                          ,.«=%%@@##
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