The Iron Man’s Challenge

           Therewasnotimetobewasted. TheIronManallowedhimselftobetakentopieces,arms,legs,body,head,allseparate,soeachpartcouldbeflownouttoAustraliaonadifferentairliner.Hewastoobigtobeflownoutinonepiece. 

           AtthesametimeashipsailedfromChina,loadedwithgreatirongirders,andanothershipsailedfromJapanloadedwithfueloil.TheIronManhadorderedthese. ThegirdersandtheoilandateamofengineerswereunloadedonthebeachofNorthernAustralia, nearthespace-bat-angel-dragon’sneck. ThentheIronMan’spartswerelandedatthesamespot, andtheengineersfittedhimtogether. Hestooduponthebeachandshoutedhischallenge. 

           "Situp,"heroared."Situpandtakenotice,yougreatspace-lizard." 

           Thespace-bat-angel-dragonsatupslowly. Hehadnevernoticedthefussingoftheboatsandaeroplanesdownthereonthebeachnearhisneck. NowhegazedinsurpriseattheIronMan,whoseemedverytinytohim,thoughhisvoicewasbigenough. 

           TheIronManspokeagain. 

           "Ichallengeyou,"heshouted,"toatestofstrength." 

           Atestofstrength?Thespace-bat-angel-dragoncouldn’tbelievehisears. AtinylittlecreatureliketheIronManchallenginghimtoatestofstrength? Hesimplylaughed.Loudandlong. ThenhepeereddownagainattheIronMan,whiletheechoofhislaughwasstillrollingroundtheearth. Hepeereddownoutoftheskyatthisoddlittlethingonthebeach,withtheeventiniermenscuttlingaroundit.