His heel slid. Nolan lurched sideways, arms flailing as he fought to regain his balance. For a desperate instant, he managed to stay upright, but his next step skidded across the ice. He crashed backward, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. Above him, the bear loomed closer, its white bulk filling his vision as he struggled to scramble away.
Nolan’s gloved hand searched frantically for his radio. It was his only chance to call for help, but his fingers felt clumsy in the cold, and the device slipped against the ice. He reached for it again, barely managing to grasp its edge. Before he could lift it to his mouth, the bear’s enormous paw came down. Plastic shattered beneath its weight, and the radio fell silent.