In the Far Distance Summary and Analysis

Joe begins to lower himself down a slope that turns abruptly steeper. He is paralyzed with fear and has to force himself to continue downward. He manages to turn so he can look down, expecting to see nothing but a void, but finds there is a layer of snow not fifteen feet below. He is relieved, then disappointed, to find it is not really a floor, but a dome. He lowers himself onto it, finds that it holds his weight initially and heads toward what he believes is safer ground. On his stomach, he wiggles his way across the ice, taking ten minutes to cross the distance as he stops at every sound of falling snow. He finds a slope that would have been a short climb with two good legs but wonders if he...