@§=:»:.... ....:»:=§@
#@§=:»:... ...:»:=§@#
##@§=:»:.. ..:»:=§@##
###@§=:»:. .:»:=§@###
##@§=:»:.. ..:»:=§@##
#@§=:»:... ................ ...:»:=§@#
@§=:»:.... 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. .....:»:=§
=:»:...... ......:»:=
:»:....... .......:»:
»:........ ........:»
:»:....... .......:»:
=:»:...... ......:»:=
§=:»:..... .....:»:=§