Mary is a middle aged woman who is accompanying her husband through Nevada as a favor to his sister. When they encounter Collie, she stands up to Tak right away, first verbally, then with a shotgun. She is a strong woman who refuses to believe she is a victim, and her determination allows her to be one of the few who survives. She is also compassionate, and when David's father dies, Mary takes him under her wing. Mary's strength and courage make her one of the most likable and believable characters in the novel.