They began to come upon chains and packsaddles, singletrees, dead mules, wagons. Saddletrees eaten bare of their rawhide coverings and weathered white as bone, a light chamfering of miceteeth along the edges of the wood. They rode through a region where iron will not rust nor tin tarnish. The ribbed frames of dead cattle under their patches of dried hide lay like the ruins of primitive boats upturned upon that shoreless void and they passed lurid and austere the black and desiccated shapes of horses and mules that travelers had stood afoot.
The passage vividly describes a desolate landscape filled with remnants of a past journey. The characters encounter abandoned items such as chains, packsaddles, and weathered wagons, which evoke a sense of loss and decay. The mention of dead mules and saddletrees illustrates the harshness of their environment, where nothing is preserved, and every trace of life seems eroded away. The scenery is devoid of color and vitality, emphasizing a stark, haunted mood as they navigate through this barren terrain.
This environment is depicted as a graveyard of sorts, where the remains of cattle and horses serve as metaphors for the futility of survival. The imagery of skeletal frames and dried hides conveys not only destruction but also a reflection of the characters' own struggles against the unforgiving nature of life. Through this bleak description, McCarthy captures the essence of despair and the relentless passage of time, highlighting the harsh realities faced by those journeying through such a merciless landscape.
