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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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....---%$¶                                          ¶$%---....