The land itself was desolation, lifeless, without movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even that of sadness. there was a hint in it of laughter, but of a laughter more terrible than any sadness.

what point is the author trying to make in these sentences?

a) had the story taken place in summer, the men would be fine.
b) nature does not care whether plants, animals, or humans live or die.
c) nature is a kind of force that aims to promote life and beauty.
d) wind chill icy roads make travel in the wild nearly impossible.