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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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#@@¤%=*».. 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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