Железный человек
What’s to be DoneWith the Iron Man?
Sotheydidnotseethegreatironhead,squarelikeabedroom,withredglaringheadlampeyes,andwiththetablecloth,stillwiththechickenandthecheese, drapedacrossthetopofit,risingoutofthetopofthehillock,astheIronManfreedhimselffromthepit.
WhenthefarmersrealizedthattheIronManhadfreedhimselftheygroaned. Whatcouldtheydonow? TheydecidedtocalltheArmy,whocouldpoundhimtobitswithanti-tankguns. ButHogarthhadanotheridea. Atfirst,thefarmerswouldnothearofit,leastofallhisownfather. Butatlasttheyagreed. Yes,theywouldgiveHogarth’sideaatrial. Andifitfailed,theywouldcallintheArmy.
Afterspendinganightandadayeatingallthebarbedwireformilesaround, aswellashingeshetoreoffgatesandthetincanshefoundinditches, andthreenewtractorsandtwocarsandalorry, theIronManwasrestinginaclumpofelmtrees.Therehestood,leaningamongthehugebranches, almosthiddenbythedenseleaves,hiseyesglowingasoftblue.
Thefarmerscamenear,alongalane,incarssothattheycouldmakeaquickgetawayifthingswentwrong. Theystoppedfiftyyardsfromtheclumpofelmtrees. Hereallywasamonster. Thiswasthefirsttimemostofthemhadhadagoodlookathim. Hischestwasasbigasacattletruck.Hisarmswerelikecranes, andhewasgettingrusty,probablyfromeatingalltheoldbarbedwire.
NowHogarthwalkeduptowardstheIronMan.
"Hello,"heshouted,andstopped."Hello,MrIronMan."
TheIronManmadenomove.Hiseyesdidnotchange.
