the ending

Deus ex Machina = God is in the machine (disappointment to the end of the novel)

I think the end is when the welcoming of the boy by the woman.
Page: 306
'Oh, she said, I am so glad to see you.' I think this is the end of the novel because there has been no women throughout however this little section contradicts this. If the man had been on his own he may have eaten the boy or at least not have let him come with them and have to share their supplies with him. The women could be a sign of femininity in the world or hope for the future because you need women to reproduce and make a future world. We also don't know what she is so pleased to see him although could they be sent by the mother from above in heaven to help the boy because she feels guilty for leaving him in the situation. However also seems a bit covenant that they came walking along the road and are willing to look after him. Themes that come through are of religion which links to the fact that his mother could have sent them by God, this could also be shown by the women talking about God a lot. 'She said that the breath of God was his breath yet though it pass from men to men through all  of time.'

Others think it's when they get to the beach.
'He looked at the boy. I'm sorry it's not blue.' Could show constant sadness and that this is a really disappointment because they have been looking forward to it so badly. It also continues the limited palette and the fact that they want to see more colours in the world. 'do you reckon there's any ships out there. No I don't think so.' They sort of seem to give up and have no hope now if nothing is out there. They have in a way got to the end of the road but it wasn't what they expected it to be. Could the dead fish be a symbol for what could happen to them very soon.

Another point of view is when the man dies.
p.298-300
As the story has been from the man's point of view for the whole novel how will the story continue now? When the boy continues the story it has a different narrative tone, it is a bit more hopeful.The cave is mentioned again just before death like the start of the novel. It's a sign of the light fading, could it also be a symbol that the whole world is dying not just the man. 'In that cold corridor they had reached the point of no return which was measured from the first solely by the light they carried with them.'