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:~,....... THE ALVAR FIELDS .......,~:
*:~,...... $$$#@#@#@#@#@$$$ ......,~:*
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¤$*:~,.... FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, THIRTY ODD ....,~:*$¤
#¤$*:~,... KILOMETERS. FROM WEST TO EAST, FOUR ...,~:*$¤#
##¤$*:~,.. THOUSAND METERS. FROM TOPSOIL TO STONE, ..,~:*$¤##
###¤$*:~,. A FOOT OR TWO. NO ROOTS CAN FESTER, NO .,~:*$¤###
##¤$*:~,.. DUST CAN LINGER. ..,~:*$¤##
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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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