#@#@%%/=^. .^=/%%@#@#
@%/^...... ......^/%@
##@#@%%/=. .=/%%@#@##
#@#@%%/=^. .^=/%%@#@#
#@#@%%/=^. .^=/%%@#@#
#@#@%%/=^. ................ .^=/%%@#@#
@#%/=^.... 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. ......^/%@
#@#@%%/=^. .^=/%%@#@#
##@%%%/=^. .^=/%%%@##
@@%///^^^. .^^^///%@@
#@%%/=^^.. ..^^=/%%@#
#@#@%%/=^. .^=/%%@#@#
@#@@%%/=^. .^=/%%@@#@