Железный человек
The Space-Being and the Iron Man
Andnowthespace-bat-angel-dragonspokeagain.
Itgavethepeoplesoftheworldoneweekinwhichtoprepareitsfirstmeal.Theycouldpreparewhattheyliked,saidthedragon. Butifthemealwasnotreadyinaweek,thenhewouldstartonthecitiesandthetowns.
Thepeoplesoftheearth,thekings,thePresidentsandMinisters,thefarmersandthefactoryworkersandtheofficeworkersbegantolament. Nowwhatwouldhappentothem? Theywouldliketosaythemonsterdidn’texist,buthowcouldthey? Thereitwas,coveringAustralia,staringoutoverallthecountriesoftheworld.
NowthelittleboyHogarthheardallaboutthis.Everybodyintheworldwastalkingaboutit,worryingaboutit.
HewassuretheIronMancoulddosomething. Comparedtothespace-bat-angel-dragontheIronManwasn’tverybig,ofcourse.TheIronManwasonlythesizeofatalltree. Nevertheless,HogarthhadfaithintheIronMan.
HevisitedtheIronManinhisscrap-yard,andtalkedtohimaboutthisgreatmonsterthatwasthreateningtheearth.
"Please,"heasked,"pleasecan’tyouthinkofsomewayofgettingridofit? Ifyoucan’t,thenit’stheendofusall."
TheIronManchewedthoughtfullyathisfavouritetitbit,ajuicy,spicyoldgas-stove. Heshookhisheadslowly.
"Pleasethinkofsomething,"criedHogarth. "Ifthisspace-bat-angel-dragonlicksalllifeofftheearth,that’llbetheendofyourscrapiron–there’llbenopeoplelefttomakeit."
TheIronManbecamestill.Heseemedtobethinking
