Железный человек
The Coming of the Iron Man
Theyjumpedontopofthelegandthelegwenthoppingovertherockswiththearmswingingfromthehandthatclungtothetopoftheleg.Theotherhandclungontopofthathand. Thetwohands,withtheireyes,guidedtheleg,twistingitthiswayandthat,asariderguidesahorse.
Soontheyfoundanotherlegandtheotherarm. Noweachhand,withaneyeunderitspalmandanarmdanglingfromitswrist,rodeonalegseparatelyaboutthebeach.Hop,hop,hop,theywent,peeringamongtherocks. Onefoundanearandatthesamemomenttheotherfoundthegianttorso. Thenthebusyhandsfittedthelegstothetorso,thentheyfittedthearms,eachfittingtheother,andthetorsostoodupwithlegsandarmsbutnohead. Itwalkedaboutthebeach,holdingitseyesupinitshands,searchingforitslosthead. Atlast,therewasthehead–eyeless,earless,nestedinaheapofredseaweed. NowinnotimetheIronManhadfittedhisheadback,andhiseyeswereinplace,andeverythinginplaceexceptforoneear. Hestrodeaboutthebeachsearchingforhislostear, asthesunroseovertheseaandthedaycame.
Thetwogullssatontheirledge,highonthecliff. Theywatchedtheimmensemanstridingtoandfroovertherocksbelow. Betweenthem,onthenestingledge,layagreatironear. Thegullscouldnoteatit. Thebabygullscouldnoteatit.Thereitlayonthehighledge.
Farbelow,theIronMansearched.
Atlasthestopped,andlookedatthesea
