You could see them standing in the amber current where the white edges of their fins ragged gently in the current. They smelled like foam in your hand. Polished, muscular and torsional. On their backs were wormy patterns that were maps of the world in the making. Maps and mazes. Of something that couldn't be put back. No longer recoverable. In the deep valleys where they lived, everything was older than man and everything resonated with mystery. (McCarthy)This quote from the father talks about nature. It talks about the way the world is and how once it has changed, it is no longer possible to rebuild it the way it was. The father says how many things that live alongside humans have actually been around longer. Realizing what has been done to nature is a good sign, but as he said, you can't put things back to the way they were before the nuclear winter. Another thought not only in this book but also in real life. People can realize and see the changes they have made, but once the changes are apparent, it is already too late to do things.