Железный человек
The Iron Man’s Challenge
Hewasgettingred-hot.Stillhesmiledupatthemonster,andstilltheflamesgrewfiercer.
AndnowtheIronManwasentirelyred-hot.Prettysoon,hewasalmostwhite-hot. Andstillhesmiled,outofwhite-hoteyesandwithwhite-hotlips. Andallthetimethespace-bat-angel-dragonstareddowninastonishment.
Butnowthefueloilwasallburnedaway.Suddenlytheflamesdied,flickeredandwentout. Thewhite-hotIronMansatup,stoodup,gotstifflyoffhisglowingbedandbegantowalktoandfroonthesand,cooling. Hecooledslowly. Hewentfromwhitetoorange,fromorangetored,redtoblack,ashewalked,coollyswinginghisarms.
Nowatlasthespoketothemonster.
"Ifyoucan’tbeartobemadered-hotlikeme,thenyouareweakerthanIam,andIhavewon,andyouaremyslave."
Themonsterbegantolaugh.
"Allright,"heroared."Buildthefire,andI’lllieonit."
Helaughedagain.HeknewtheIronMancouldn’tbuildafirethesizeofAustralia. Butthenhislaughstopped. TheIronManwaspointingupwards,atthesun.
"Thereisthefireforyou,"heshouted."Yougoandliethere.Goandlieonthesuntillyouarered-hot."
Themonstergazedupatthesun.Hefeltstrangelycoldsuddenly.Buthowcouldherefuse? Allright!Andhesetoff.
Withslowgiantwingbeats,heliftedhisimmensebodyofftheearth,andflewslowlyuptowardsthesun,whilethewholeearthwatched...
Slowlyhecoveredthedistance,gettingsmallerandsmallerashewent. Atlasthelanded,araggedblackshapesprawledacrossthesun.
