Железный человек
The Iron Man’s Challenge
"AndifIcanprovemyselfstrongerthanyouare,thenyoumustpromisetobecomemyslave,"criedtheIronMan.
Thedragonsmiled. Aircraftflewaround,watchingthisamazingconversationbetweenthespace-bat-angel-dragonandtheIronMan. Shipsoutatseawatchedthroughtelescopes.
"Andifyoudon’tacceptmychallenge,"shoutedtheIronMan,"thenyou’reamiserablecowardlyreptile,notfittobotherwith."
Thespace-bat-angel-dragonwassoastoundedthatheagreed.Why,hethought,whenthissillylittlecreaturehasfinishedhisantics,I’lljustlickhimup. Sothemonsteragreed,andwatchedtoseewhatthetestofstrengthwastobe. Afterall,ifhewanted,hecouldflattentheIronManwithoneeyelash.
Theengineershadfastenedallthegirderstogetherintheshapeofagrid,ahugeironbedthesizeofahouse. Underthistheyhadmadeasteel-linedpit. Nowtheypouredfueloilintothepit.Thespace-bat-angel-dragonwatched.
Nowtheylitthefueloilandtheflamesroaredupfiercelythroughthebarsofthegrid.
Andnowthespace-bat-angel-dragongothisfirstshock. TheIronManwasstretchinghimselfoutonhisback,onthegrid,amongtheflames,hisanklescrossed,hishandsfoldedbehindhishead –justasifhewereinbed,whiletheflamesragedunderandaroundhim.
Themonsterstareddown,andtheIronMansmiledupoutofthemidstoftheflames.
Theflamesbecamefiercer. Thegridbecamered-hot. TheIronMan’shairandelbowsandtoesbecamered-hot. Hisbodybecamefirstblue,thenblack,thenbegantoglowdully.
