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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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