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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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