The sun had melted the top layer of snow into a surface of slick ice, and he coached himself to slow down, but a gnawing in his stomach and a tightening in his right temple urged him on. Too much damn coffee, he told himself, but it was more than that. He needed to be back in the city, and with miles of snow-packed roads between him and his goal, his impatience grew with every passing minute. The snow was beginning to topple from the branches now, as the heat of the sun made it wetter and heavier. The wind had picked up too, blowing great clouds of white mist across the road, obscuring it from view. “Christ,” he muttered, shifting into low gear as he crept around a curve in the road. His cell phone let out an abrupt beep, and he swerved, startled by the sound. The rear tires lost their traction, sliding on the smooth surface of the road, and suddenly the car was traveling sideways. Dimly recalled driving advice darted through his head: pump the brakes, and turn in the direction of the skid.
