Survival Against Opponents Nature is one thing, but man and boy must also contend with other humans. We learn through the man's dreams and memories that there were a lot of people on the roadways just after the disaster. The dad and the youngster flee, but one man, a "roadrat," tracks them down. He uses their blood to eat and drink, then throws up what he has eaten. Afterwards, he continues on his way. This story tells us that even though man is more powerful than nature, he is not the only animal who needs to survive. Also, the dream indicates that the man will face another human being, so survival means not only maintaining your own life but also trying to help others. Finally, survival is about doing whatever it takes to live. There are many examples of this in mythology. For example, Prometheus stole fire from heaven for man to use without asking permission from any god. However, he was punished for this by having half of his body cut off every day and placed in the sea. Even though he was given eternal life, he had to suffer needlessly because there was no way to cure him of this pain. Survival meant keeping half of his body submerged in the water at all times. This shows us that even if a person is given an advantage, they cannot afford to take it. They must also endure disadvantages if they want to survive.