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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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