questions
Velma Winter gets into her old Datsun pickup and, after avoiding the demolition derby in the parking lot, discovers her right-of-way to the road is blocked by fleeing pedestrians.
Question 1: Does “right-of-way” in this case mean "a path or route”,not“the legal right to occupy a particular space on a public roadway” ?
At the Dome, the reunions have been ended by an apocalyptic party-crasher. Those on the inside have something more important than relatives to occupy them now: the giant mushroom cloud that’s growing to the northwest of their position, rising on a muscle of fire already almost a mile high. The first feather of wind—the wind that has sent Carter and Big Jim fleeing for the fallout shelter—strikes them, and they cringe against the Dome, mostly ignoring the people behind them. In any case, the people behind them are retreating. They’re lucky; they can.Henrietta Clavard feels a cold hand wrap around hers. She turns and sees Petra Searles. Petra’s hair has come loose from the clips that were holding it and hangs against her cheeks.
“Got any more of that joy-juice?” Petra asks, and manages a ghastly let’s-party smile.
“Sorry, all out,” Henrietta says.
“Well—maybe it doesn’t matter.”
“Hang onto me, honey,” Henrietta says. “Just hang onto me. We’re going to be okay.”
But when Petra looks into the old woman’s eyes, she sees no belief and no hope. The party’s
almost over.
Question 2: In “a muscle of fire”, “muscle” means “force, power or strength, right?
Question 3: The first feather of wind = The first breeze?
Question 4: hang onto me = hold onto me = follow me tightly?
Question 5: In "The party is almost over", "the party" refers to "the reunion" or "the Visitors Day", right? It has nothing to do with "let's-party", right?