Mark is established as an unusually capable 13-year-old in his decision to hike solo for a week across the Marauder Missile Range. He carries his own food, water, and equipment, and capably navigates his environment. These survivalist skills prove essential when a tube of blue light transports him to Transall, which he originally believes to be another planet, but is in fact a future Earth devastated by a deadly virus and nuclear war. In particular, Mark’s courage in facing deadly animals and people, and his intuition in establishing shelter, finding food, and deciding who to trust, save his life numerous times.

Mark uses the knowledge he gained from survival magazines in order to escape the buffalo-like creature and stinging insects, and natural hazards like quicksand. These escapes require not only a cool head, but courage in overcoming deadly obstacles with his limited resources. Mark is especially brave when he defeats the Howling Thing in order to save Leeta: “[W]hen it had lunged for him, Mark had instinctively raised the spear. The sharp point had gone through the animal’s heart, killing it instantly” (42).

Mark eventually uses his survival knowledge and instincts to make a safe shelter: “[U]sing a pattern he’d seen in an army survival manual, he wove the supple twigs into a loose mat and placed it on the floor” (26).