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.:=*%¤#¶##             THE ALVAR FIELDS             ##¶#¤%*=:.
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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.             ##¶#¤%*=:.
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.:=*%¤¤¤¶# PLANTS.  BUSHES  FRAME  THE  STRIP.  THE #¶¤¤¤%*=:.
.:=*%¤#¶## EARTH IS BARE  IN  PATCHES  AS LARGE  AS ##¶#¤%*=:.
.:=*%¤#¶##                YOU AND ME.               ##¶#¤%*=:.
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.:=*%%¤¤¶¶ CROSS IT  TO GET TO  THE OCEAN, OR DON'T ¶¶¤¤%%*=:.
.:=*%¤#¶##          TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE.          ##¶#¤%*=:.
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