Железный человек
The Iron Man’s Challenge
Hiswingswereonlyragsofwhattheyhadbeen. Hisskinwascrisped. Andallhisfatnesshadbeenchangedbythefiresofthesunintopreciousstones –jewels,emeralds,rubies,turquoises,andsubstancesthathadneverbeenfoundonearth. Andwhenhelanded,withsuchajolt,theseloadsofpreciousgemsburstthroughtheholesscorchedinhisskin andscattereddownontotheAustraliandesertbeneath.
ButtheIronMancouldnotallowhimselftopitythespace-bat-angel-dragon. Hesignalledtotheengineers.
"Roundthree,"heshouted.
Andtheengineersbegantopourintheoil.Butwhatwasthis?Anenormouswhoofingsound. Abooming,wheezing,sneezingsound. Thespace-bat-angel-dragonwasweeping. IftheIronMangotontohisfurnaceagain,itwouldmeanthathe,themonster,wouldhavetotakeanotherroastinginthesun –andhecouldnotstandanother.
"Enough,enough,enough!"heroared.
"No,no,"repliedtheIronMan. "Ifeellikegoingon.We’veonlyhadtwoeach."
"It’senough,"criedthedragon. "It’stoomuch.Ican’tstandanother. Thefiresofthesunaretooterribleforme.Isubmit."
"ThenI’vewon,"shoutedtheIronMan. "BecauseI’mquitereadytoroastmyselfred-hotagain. Ifyoudaren’t,thenI’vewon."
"You’vewon,yes,you’vewon,andIamyourslave,"criedthespace-bat-angel-dragon. "I’lldoanythingyoulike,butnotthesunagain."
AndheplungedhischininthePacific,tocoolit.
"Verywell,"saidtheIronMan."Fromnowonyouaretheslaveoftheearth.Whatcanyoudo?"
