She turned her face toward the four-by-four. She could see nothing behind the window.

Then the four-by-four jerked forward, as if pushed from behind. It shot ahead of her. She saw the black stretch of water. She yanked the wheel to the left.

A tree, damnit! She pounded the brakes and ducked. Metal slammed against wood. Her head hit the wheel. The windshield shattered. Lights streaked by. Glass fell on her. Pain raced through her chest, shoulder, and neck. She waited for another crash, another explosion, and before it arrived, she dropped into nothingness.

“Miss Lang. Miss Lang.”

She tried to focus. Someone’s hands were on her. A pounding echoed in her head. She was afraid to move. She felt pieces of the windshield in her hair.

“Miss Lang. Can you … ?”

She opened her eyes. A black man was next to her.

“Sit up if you can. But if it hurts, lie still.”

She placed her right arm against the seat—no bolt of pain—and then pushed. Slowly, she propped herself upright. Glass tumbled off her.

“There you go. It’s not too bad. I called for an ambulance.”

She touched her forehead. It was wet, warm.

“You’re banged up there, but it’s not cut deep. Take this.”

He placed a handkerchief in her hand and guided it to the wound.

“Don’t press too hard.”

There were no lights on the parkway. She could barely see the man. Then he leaned against the opened door and the interior light came on. Late-fifties, she guessed. A gray circle in his hair. His face was covered with sweat. He looked familiar. She wiggled her toes and carefully changed the position of her legs. They seemed fine. She tried to slide toward the door.

“Take it easy,” he said.

“I think I’m okay,” she said. “Let me try.”

He moved out of her way, and she swung her legs out of the car. Her left shoulder and arm hurt.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I was behind you and saw this car smack right into you. Looked like he was trying to force you off the road. I came up on his rear and drove straight into him—pretty fast—to push him away. You went flying off the road. Hit this tree.”

“And where’d he go?”

“He tore out of here. I couldn’t chase after him. My headlights were gone, and a piece of metal was caught in one of the wheels. I pulled over.”

He pointed down the parkway. She couldn’t make out his car.

“An ambulance will be here soon,” he said.

“Did you see who—”

“Got the license … . You don’t know?”

She shook her head. She was trying to clear away the fog. The pain became sharper. She wanted to stand up and grabbed for the side of the door. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

“I think we should wait for the medics,” he said.