“hissing like sand” (“Powder”)
The narrator equates the snow sound to sand. The comparison constructs a picture of peculiar snow that entices the narrator and his father to go on with the skiing oblivious to the fact that the same snow may make it unmanageable to arrive home as prearranged.
“Mike could feel it pulling at Benny like a big magnet” (“The Night in Question”)
The ‘it’ denotes to the engine room. The magnetic power of the engine room is credited to Benny’s passion with mechanics. From the Biblical angle, Jesus’ adoration for the human race pulled Him magnetically to them even though they were wicked. The magnetic pull of Jesus love motivated him to be a ransom for all human beings.
“Mike knows it as sure as he knows his own name.” (“The Night in Question”)
This simile places prominence on Mike’s conviction in relation to the whereabouts of Benjamin. Mike is certain that Benny is in the engine room, and not even selective perception or deceitful illusions can amend this fact.
