Quote 34
[The Boy:] What about my papa?
[The Veteran:] What about him.
[The Boy:] We cant just leave him here.
[The Veteran:] Yes we can.
[The Boy:] I dont want people to see him.
[The Veteran:] Can I cover him with some leaves?
[The Boy:] The wind will blow them away.
[The Veteran:] Could we cover him with one of the blankets?
[The Boy:] I'll do it. Go on now.
[The Veteran:] Okay. (387.6-387.16)
We find this passage really moving. Earlier in the novel, The Man rips a blanket off a corpse in an abandoned house. It's not a cruel or indecent act; it's just an example of how desperate things have become. Now, at the very end of the novel, The Boy makes sure his father's body is covered, even though it means leaving behind a valuable warm blanket.