“Hiking and backpacking were Mark’s one obsession. He saved every dime of his paper-route money to buy equipment and now he had some of the best. In his spare time he studied survival books and magazines to stay up with the latest techniques.”

Early on, the reader learns about Mark’s interest in survivalist skills, connecting to the theme of Survivalist Courage and Intuition. This fixation foreshadows his adventure in Transall, where he will need to develop his skills in order to survive a range of terrifying challenges—including dangerous flora and fauna, starvation and injury, and warring tribes.

“The inside of the tube contained myriad surging colors: reds, blues, and yellows. It was like watching a spectacular laser light show being performed just for him.”

Mark comes across a tube of light in the desert. The strangeness of the light alludes to its origins, as it will transport Mark to the world of Transall for four years. His struggle to either find his way back home or establish a new home (as per the theme of Creating a Safe Home in an Adversarial Setting) starts here.

“He took two steps and found himself in gooey red mud up to his knees. He tried to climb out but every time he moved, it sucked him down. Quicksand.”

Mark faces many challenges when he arrives on Transall—including dangerous animals and quicksand. The overall danger of Mark’s situation is symbolized by the quicksand: He must quickly draw on his knowledge of survival (and learn on the go) in order to navigate Transall.