The chapter opens with a description of the storm that's about to hit the area. The narrator notes that the wind is blowing so fast that it's hard to keep up with it. He also notes that a lot of the roads in the area are rougher than they used to be, which makes it even more difficult to ride. He compares this to the "road of blood" , which is a reference to the fact that the road is full of blood, whereas the road in this chapter is "full of air" . Finally, the narrator realizes that he's in the middle of a storm, and that he can't plan for it. The storm is coming, and the wind has already changed, making it even harder for him to fly.