They ate and moved on, leaving the fire on the ground behind them, and as they rode up into the mountains this fire seemed to become altered of its location, now here, now there, drawing away, or shifting unaccountably along the flank of their movement. Like some ignis fatuus belated upon the road behind them which all could see and of which none spoke. For this will to deceive that is in things luminous may manifest itself likewise in retrospect and so by sleight of some fixed part of a journey already accomplished may also post men to fraudulent destinies. As
by Cormac McCarthy
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The passage describes a group moving through the mountains after a meal, leaving behind a fire that seems to change its position unpredictably as they ride away. This fire takes on a mystical quality, evoking imagery of a will-o'-the-wisp, appearing to guide or mislead them without anyone acknowledging its presence. The elusive nature of the fire symbolizes the deceptive aspects of their journey, hinting at the unpredictable paths life can take.

As they progress, the shifting fire serves as a metaphor for the uncertain destinies that lie ahead. It suggests that past experiences may distort reality, leading individuals toward unexpected outcomes. The idea of being drawn toward a misleading light suggests a struggle between recognition and denial of the truths that shape one’s path, emphasizing the complexity and often treacherous nature of memory and fate.

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