Unpredictability

The author uses the theme of unpredictability to demonstrate the many perils facing the protagonists in their post-apocalyptic world, and to emphasize the importance of another theme – trust. Rachel and Wick must protect themselves from the threats of Mord and his proxies and the Magician and her children, and it is vital that they be able to count on each other to do so. But the uncertainty surrounding the provenance and purpose of Borne, along with the other threats they are facing, puts their relationship in jeopardy.

Mord, the giant flying bear, is the principle symbol of unpredictability in the novel. This is apparent from the beginning, as Rachel explains that she would search the sleeping Mord for salvageable materials tangled in his fur. Mord is like a god in the city, sometimes bestowing gifts, sometimes creating havoc. This is how Rachel found Borne, which is...