by Tom Molnar

It's the first snow of the season, or at least the first snow of any consequence and it's piling up quickly on the two lane road. The plows won't be around for hours yet. An eerie silence is taking over in the surrounding woods as the snow continues to fall. A nighttime snow storm in the woods - nothing like it.

There's a good sized 'pull' on this road and it's called Dead Horse Summit. Probably got its name back when horses pulled wagons and a few didn't quite make the grade. In this day and age it's still a serious grade bringing even the biggest Cat to a mere crawl. When it snows ...... well. At the bottom is a sign which can be turned in snowy weather. It reads "All Trucks - Vehicles With Trailers - Chains Required". Usually the driver of the snow plow turns the sign when he gets there but since no plow has passed yet, the sign is still turned sideways.

Already two trucks are parked in the wide spot near the sign. This space is provided for vehicles to 'chain up' off the main travel lane. One truck is a Roadway set of doubles with a single axle tractor. The driver is hanging a set of three railers on the tractor and plans to hang one set of drag chains on his second trailer. The other truck is a private carrier who hauls sausage. He's also got a single axle tractor and a short trailer. He's going to try to make it with a set of singles on his tractor and a drag on his trailer.

Currently they're standing between their two trucks doing what drivers do best. Telling war stories and complaining about the weather.

"Man, it's too early for this stuff", the Roadway driver says. "Last year we didn't have to chain until way into December. I haven't had time to get into chaining shape yet." He ceremoniously rubs his protruding belly and laughs.

The sausage man laughs and adds, "Yeah, no kidding. In fact, last year I made it all the way to January before I had to hang anything. This will throw my whole sense of timing off." He laughs again, then adds, "I knew I was in trouble back there just above the railroad tracks. You know where that little hill is? I was already spinning way back there. I KNEW I was going to have to chain when I hit Dead Horse. Didn't even think of trying to make it. I just pulled over when I got here. Nothin's worse than spinning out in the middle of the road, half way up. This stuff is slick under this snow. Kinda scary."

Both drivers step out from between their trucks. They hear it at the same time. Another truck is approaching, only this one isn't slowing down. Instead, they can hear him upshifting and increasing speed. They look at each other.

The sausage man speaks first.

"Oh boy, here comes a show."

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Duke's cruising down the two lane, singing along to a Billy Ray tape, smoking his Black Russians, spilling coffee periodically in his lap, and just generally oblivious to his surroundings. Yeah, it's snowing but hey, no big deal. Snows all the time. Duke's got a 'long trailer' and a three axle tractor today, and nothing can stop him........

"If I can just get to Bobo's Truck Stop before the shift change I can see Suzy. I know she'll be happy to see me." Duke's thoughts are always on 'his women', and the road conditions haven't even crossed his mind yet.

He did slide a bit back there at the railroad crossing giving him a start for a second, but he was back on track before he even knew what happened. He accidentally made it just fine. While he couldn't see too far out front, he could see the edge of the road, and that's all that mattered. If he could keep it all on the pavement, no need to worry about anything else.

Duke knows there's a major pull in another couple miles and he's already building speed for it.

"I hope they haven't got that damned chaining sign up", he thinks. "I always feel bad when I blow on by. A REAL driver don't need no stinking chains. Weenies chain"

Through the snowy curtain Duke detects something not quite right. Yeah, there's a flashing red glow growing brighter with every second. He sees the source as he speeds on by. There's a truck in the 'chain up' area and its four way flashers are blinking at him. Actually, there's two trucks there and Duke snickers as he passes, noting the two drivers standing between them.

"Look at these idiots" Duke thinks. "It's not even December and they're chaining. Hell, we don't chain out here 'til at least December, and last year we made it to January. Besides, I only chained twice all last year. Good thing they're not out here in my way. Weenies....."

Duke careens by the two trucks, building speed for Dead Horse. He tenses up slightly, grips the steering wheel a little tighter, repositions himself in the seat, and pushes his cowboy hat back a little, all necessary preparations for making it up the hill. One last sip of coffee and the fight's on. Duke versus Dead Horse.

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Roadway looks at the sausage man and says. "Wow, a REAL man..."

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The natural change in grade causes Duke to downshift one gear as he slows a bit.

"Ok baby, let's go", Duke says out loud. He unconsciously slides forward in the seat again, changing his grip on the steering wheel. He feels the tractor's drive wheels slide a bit to one side. Duke steers into the slide correcting for it. "Come on, come on....."

The climb is steeper now and Duke downshifts two more times before he begins spinning out.

"Uh oh, better let off a bit", Duke thinks. He stops the spinning drive wheels by letting off on the fuel, and this causes him to slow down even more. The snow is getting heavier the closer to the top he gets. He can barely see the end of his hood now, and the snow flakes look as big as silver dollars in his headlights.

"Man, this stuff is thick", Duke says. "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon", in quick staccato fashion.

The truck wheels break loose and the rpm shoots right to 1900 as the rig bends in the middle and Duke fights to get it back straight. He's almost lost all forward movement as he again turns into the slide to correct for it. Duke gets off the fuel completely to regain some control but he's almost in the oncoming lane now.

"This is not good", Duke thinks. He's pretty sure he knows where he is in relation to the top, and it's not far. Doesn't matter though, because it's now clear he's not going to make it.

Another downshift and Duke feels the wheels spinning. No traction at all.

"Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!" Duke yells. "Please let me make this hill! I promise to chain up early next time! Just let me make it this once! I'll chain next time! I'll even chain EARLY next time! Just this once let me make it!"

Duke's truck stops moving forward but he keeps his foot firmly on the fuel pedal in the hopes he'll burn through the ice and snow and find purchase on the hot pavement underneath. No good. In fact, he begins sliding backwards.

"Oh no!", Duke cries. "Oh no, no, no, no!"

He jams his foot onto the brake pedal but nothing happens. The wheels are all locked up of course, but the truck is sliding backwards down the hill. Duke is completely out of control.

"No, no, no, no, no, no..............!!!"

The trailer slides off the pavement on the left side while the tractors drive axles flop into the ditch on the right side. A 'classic' jackknife. Duke has effectively shut down the highway now, and there's nothing short of a tow truck that can help him.

Duke puts his four way flashers on.

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The sausage man turns to Roadway and says, "Don't you just love REAL men...?"