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...,«†*%@¶             THE ALVAR FIELDS             ¶@%*†«,...
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.,«†*%@¶@#                                          #@¶@%*†«,.
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...,«†*%@¶ 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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