In Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," the protagonist experiences an unsettling moment described by a thunderous sound that resonates beneath him. This phenomenon is depicted as indescribable, evoking a sense of mystery and dread that permeates the darkness around him. It suggests an underlying tension in the environment that is both powerful and ungraspable.
The narrative conveys a chilling feeling as the earth seems to react to an external force, contracting with the cold, which intensifies the bleak atmosphere. This ominous silence that follows the thunder indicates a shifting of something significant, though not fully understood, leaving the characters and readers in a state of anxious anticipation.