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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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