Железный человек
The Iron Man’s Challenge
Hesetoff,upfromtheearth,beatinghiscolossalwings,writhinghislongponderousbodyupintotheskytowardsthesun. Nowitwashisturn. Andhedidnotlaugh. Lasttimehadbeentoodreadful. Buthewent. Hecouldn’tlettheIronManwin. Hecouldn’tlettheIronManoftheearthbeathiminthisterriblecontest.
Andsoallthetelescopesandcamerasoftheworldwatchedhimflyingintothesun. Theysawhimlandamongtheflames,asbefore. Asbefore,theysawhisgreatraggedshapelikeanink-blotsprawledoverthecentreofthesun. Theysawhimbegintoglowred,thenorange. Andatlasttheycouldnolongerseehim.Heandthesunwereoneblindingwhiteness.
Hehaddoneitagain!Butwasthesunburninghimup? Hadhemeltedinthesun?Wherewashe?
No,herehewas,herehecame.Slowly,slowly,downthroughspace. Muchmoreslowlythanbefore. Hiswhite-hotflyingbodycooledslowlytoredashecame,andashegrewlarger,comingnearer,hefinallybecameoncemoreblack. Andthegreatblackshapeflaggeditswaydownthroughspaceuntil
BUMP!!!!!!
Heavierthanever,helandedonAustralia. Thistimethebumpwassoheavy,itknockeddowncertainsky-scrapers,senttidalwavessweepingintoharbours, andthrewherdsofcowsontotheirbacks. Allovertheworld,anybodywhohappenedtoberidingabicycleatthatmomentinstantlyfelloff. Thespace-bat-angel-dragonlandedsoponderouslybecausehewasexhausted. Andnowhewasaverychangedmonster. Thefiresofthesunhadworkedonhiminawaythatwasawfultosee.
