In the days to come they would ride up through a country where the rocks would cook the flesh from your hand and where other than rock nothing was. They rode in a narrow enfilade along a trail strewn with the dry round turds of goats and they rode with their faces averted from the rock wall and the bakeoven air which it rebated, the slant black shapes of the mounted men stenciled across the stone with a definition austere and implacable like shapes capable of violating their covenant with the flesh that authored them and continuing autonomous across the naked rock without reference to sun or man or god.
In the narrative, the characters journey through a harsh and unforgiving landscape, characterized by blistering heat and desolation. The environment is so extreme that it has the power to physically harm those who traverse it, as reflected in the imagery of rocks that can "cook the flesh from your hand." This setting not only illustrates the physical challenges faced by the riders but also serves as a backdrop for their existential struggle against the elements and their own mortality.
The riders navigate a narrow, treacherous path littered with the remnants of wildlife, which emphasizes the starkness of their surroundings. Their posture—turning away from the oppressive rock wall and searing air—demonstrates a blending of human fragility with the daunting presence of nature. The stark silhouettes of the mounted figures create a haunting visual, suggesting a detachment from humanity and a struggle against both the terrain and the fundamental aspects of existence. This scene exemplifies the themes of survival, isolation, and the indifference of the natural world.
