Железный человек
The Iron Man’s Challenge
Everybodywatched.Andnowtheysawthemonsterbegintoglow. Blueatfirst,thenred,thenorange. Finallyhisshapewasinvisible,thesameblazingwhiteasthesunitself. Themonsterwaswhite-hotonthesun.
Thentheysawhimreturning,ablazingshapetearingitselfoffthesun. Thisshapebecameredasitflew. Itwaswrithingandgrowinglarger. Slowlyoncemoreitbecametheblackbat-wingedshapeofthedragonflyingbacktoearth,downanddown, biggerandbigger,coolingashecame,until
BUMP!!!!
Helanded–thistimemuchmoreheavilythanbefore,onAustralia. Helandedsoheavilythatallovertheworldbellstumbledoutofchurchtowersandbirds’-eggswerejarredoutoftheirnests. ThemonsterstareddownattheIronMan.
Butitwashardlythesamemonster! Hishornsdrooped,hisfacewaswizenedandblack,hisclawswerescorchedblunt,hiscrestfloppedoverlimplyandgreatraggedholeswereburnedinhiswings. Ithadbeenterribleforhimonthefiresofthesun. Buthehaddoneit,andherehewas. Thefiresofthesunarefar,farhotterthananyfireshereonearthcaneverbe.
"There,"heroared."I’vedoneit."
TheIronMannodded. Buthisanswerwastosignaltotheengineers. Oncemoretheypouredoilintothetroughunderthegrid.Oncemoretheylitit. Oncemoretheflamesroaredupandtheblacksmokebillowedupintotheclearblue. AndoncemoretheIronManstretchedhimselfoutonthegridoftheragingfurnace.
Thespace-bat-angel-dragonwatchedinhorror. Heknewwhatthismeantforhim.
