The Coming of the Iron Man

           TheIronMancametothetopofthecliff. 

           Howfarhadhewalked?Nobodyknows. Wherehadhecomefrom?Nobodyknows.Howwashemade? Nobodyknows. 

           Tallerthanahouse,theIronManstoodatthetopofthecliff,ontheverybrink,inthedarkness. 

           Thewindsangthroughhisironfingers. Hisgreatironhead,shapedlikeadustbinbutasbigasabedroom, slowlyturnedtotheright,slowlyturnedtotheleft. Hisironearsturned,thisway,thatway. Hewashearingthesea. Hiseyes,likeheadlamps,glowedwhite,thenred,theninfra-red,searchingthesea. NeverbeforehadtheIronManseenthesea. 

           Heswayedinthestrongwindthatpressedagainsthisback.Heswayedforward,onthebrinkofthehighcliff. 

           Andhisrightfoot,hisenormousironrightfoot,lifted–up,out,intospace,andtheIronMansteppedforward,offthecliff,intonothingness. 

           CRRRAAAASSSSSSH! 

           DowntheclifftheIronMancametoppling,headoverheels.CRASH!CRASH!CRASH! 

           Fromrocktorock,snagtosnag,tumblingslowly.Andashecrashedandcrashedandcrashed 

           Hisironlegsfelloff. 

           Hisironarmsbrokeoff,andthehandsbrokeoffthearms. 

           Hisgreatironearsfelloffandhiseyesfellout. 

           Hisgreatironheadfelloff. 

           Alltheseparatepiecestumbled,scattered,crashing,bumping,clanging,downontotherockybeachfarbelow. 

           Afewrockstumbledwithhim. 

           Then 

           Silence. 

           Onlythesoundofthesea,chewingawayattheedgeoftherockybeach, wherethebitsandpiecesoftheIronManlayscatteredfarandwide,silentandunmoving.