Answer:
"slowing my thoughts to a snail's place".
Step-by-step explanation:
The part "slowing.....snail's place" illustrates the figurative language used by the narrator. The use of hyperbole is to emphasize the reconciliation of thoughts of narrator's mind via giving a blow or slow down to his thinking. The exaggeration of slowing his thoughts by comparing it to 'snail's pace' exemplifies the narrator's message more effectively. The narrator depicts the blow to his thinking as symbolized by the words "slowing" and comparing it to snail enhances the impact of cold onto his intellectual reasoning ability also shown in "the cold seeped my bones, chilling my core".