Железный человек
The Iron Man’s Challenge
Hewouldhavetogooncemoreintothesun’sflames.
AndnowtheIronMan’shairandtoesandelbowswerered-hot. Helaybackintheflames,smilingupatthedragon. Andhiswholebodywasbecomingred-hot,thenorange,andfinallywhite,liketheblazingwireinsideanelectricbulb.
Atthispoint,theIronManwasterriblyafraid. Forwhatwouldhappeniftheflameswentongettingfiercerandfiercer? Hewouldmelt.Hewouldmeltanddripintotheflameslikesomuchtreacleandthatwouldbetheendofhim. Soeventhoughhegrinnedupatthedragonasthoughhewereenjoyingtheflames,hewasnotenjoyingthematall,andhewasveryveryfrightened.
Eventheengineers,whowerehidingbehindthickasbestosscreensoveramileawayalongthebeach, feltthehairsingeingontheirheads,andtheytoothoughtitwastheendoftheIronMan. Perhapstheyhadpouredinjustabittoomuchfueloil.
Butatthatverymoment,andtheverysecondthattheedgeoftheIronMan’searstartedtomelt,thefuelwasusedupandtheflamesdied. Theengineerscamerunningdownthebeach. Theysawthered-hotIronMangettingoffhisfearfulbed,andtheysawhimmovingtoandfroonthesand,coolingoff.
Atlast,theIronManlookedupatthedragon. Hecouldhardlyspeakafterhisordealintheflames. Instead,hesimplypointedtowardsthesun,andjabbedhisfingertowardsthesun,ashegazedupatthemonster.
"That’stwice,"hemanagedtosay."Nowit’syourturn."
Themonsterdidnotlaugh.
